Many years have passed since you and I last spoke to one another, so allow me to refresh your memory with this brief scenario:

A chubby little brown pigtailed girl in a frilly pink dress is curled up under a desk, sobbing tragically and wiping her running nose on her hem. Her big green eyes are brimmed with hate and fear, and she glares up at you defiantly, clutching a tattered paper in her small, tight fist. Angrily, you swipe your hand under the desk in a clumsy attempt to snatch the paper. "Give it to me, you little moron!" you growl, as you take another swipe. The girl squeals in fear and crouches tighter under the desk. A small puddle grows at her feet. Mortified, she glances at your from under trembling lashes. She is trapped.

Seeing no other way out, she rips the paper into pieces and stuffs them into her swollen pink mouth. As she chews and swallows the final piece, she grins at you victoriously.

Your fury knows no bounds. You take a final swipe with our hand under the desk and connect with one, lone ponytail, and drag it, along with it's hysterical owner, down to the principal's office.

Do you remember me now, Ms. Madison? I'm no longer that frightened child, Ms. Madison - I'm a grown woman, and I'm in COLLEGE. Soon, I'm going to be a teacher. A TEACHER, Ms. Madison - can you believe it? Not too bad of an accomplishment for a retard, wouldn't you say? That chubby little green eyed imp you tortured no longer exists, Ms. Madison. And neither does the self-loathing, self-doubting, desperate woman she became. I've finally done it. I've finally erased you from my life, by accomplishing everything you told me I never would, and in doing so, I've learned so much about my incredible beauty and strength, and perseverance.

So thank you, Ms. Madison - for the lesson that I'm certain you never intended to teach. It has made all the difference in my life, and will in turn, make all the difference in the lives of the children I now serve.