Like so many teachers，I try hard to make each of my students feel they are special. I'm not a mother, so I look at my students as my children. In short year I have the opportunity to touch their lives. I want to teach each child that he or she is special because of who he or she is. During one year of teaching of fifth- grade class, I was shown how important my actions and lessons were.

It was toward the end of January when I started seeing notes passed around. This was unusual because the students had many opportunities to speak with each other while doing class activities. And because the notes were between students who weren't friends.There was not a certain individual initiator(发起人） of the notes nor was there just one receiver. They were simply circulating on a regular basis.

These notes were passed for a few days before I asked several students caught with them why they were being passed. I then lectured the whole class on their disrespect to me as I was trying to teach, while they passed papers. I didn't read the notes but placed them in the trash can.

After a week or two, I thought I had put an end to the note passing because the activity subsided. As January changed to February thoughts turned towards Valentine's day, but there was very little of the usual talk that goes on this holiday. The art teacher taught them to make big envelopes to hold their valentines and those were taped to the desks. I passed out a class list of names, so students could address their valentines. Finally on the day before the holiday, the students asked if they would be having a party. I asked them if they thought the last hour of the day would be a fair arrangement, and they agreed. Later they pushed for a 90 minute time period. And I gave them the old line, we will see how the rest of the day goes first.

On valentine's day we went through the morning lessons with no problem. I was surprised at how calm they were, considering what a holiday like valentine's day could do to ten-year-olds. Before the students went to lunch, I told them we would celebrate when we came back. They finally showed some excitement. When I went back to the cafeteria to pick my students up from lunch, they were not there.The assistant principal said the music teacher had taken them. I walked around the building to the music department and circled back toward the cafeteria. In the doorway was the music teacher who was waiting to greet me. The cafeteria had been cleared with the exception of one chair in the middle of the room. My students all stood before me on the stage as the music teacher walked me to the lone chair in the center of the room.

Candi, my shy little one spoke into the microphone. “We wanted to do something very special for you because you do so many special things for us. We had many ideas but decided you would like this one the very most. We have put together a talent show for you as our present. We hope you enjoy it.

Each student performed for me that day, there was dancing, singing, a roller blade routine set to music, a piano piece, a poetry reading. Every child did something in that show. I watched in disbelief. They had organized an entire variety show on their own. There was a master of ceremonies, props, scenery and equipment. All the notes that had been passed weeks before were plans for after school meetings to prepare and organize the show. They had asked for the help of the music teacher to help them get permission to use the stage and operate the sound system.

After an hour long performance to an audience of one beaming teary-eyed teacher, the show ended with all the students lined up on the stage. Together they said, “We knew the best gift we could give you would be a part of us. Happy Valentine's day.”

I have never felt so much love on valentine's day for the students and for being a teacher.

She was moved to hospice (临终安养院) a week ago. I stayed with her for a week and then flew back home.

Her dying process is anything but “peaceful”, making me physically ill. I had some “quiet time” with her to say my goodbyes and try to let her know it was time for her to be at pace, but as time wore on, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I feel like I would be changed forever if I continued to witness this. However, I also feel extremely guilty about “abandoning” her during her last days.

More background: my mom went through treatment up to a few days before she was admitted to a hospital. After a month, she was moved to hospice once we finally realized she was dying. This last step has been a blow to us because she was so “normal” up until her fall, so although we knew we would eventually be in this place, we didn’t expect it NOW. I am the youngest of 3 kids, but my mom and I have always had a very close relationship, although we live 2,000 miles away from each other.

The problem I have is that I hear so many people say that there is “no way” they would leave their mother’s side on her deathbed and I thought I would be the same way, but I just lost it and came home. I feel like I am justifying coming back, even though nobody is judging me!

I have contemplated flying back to her, just so I can be there ... but in reality, I’m torn. I want to be there, but I don’t want to see or hear death.

Please ... help me figure out a way to reduce my guilt.

This is the moment a cleaner at a British university burst into tears after students raised $ 2,063 to send him to Jamaica on vacation to see family.

Herman Gordon, who has worked at Bristol University for more than a decade, is described as “one of the most loved” members of its cleaning staff. He is so well liked that a group of students raised money to give him a holiday. A video shows a student hands an envelope of cash to the surprised Gordan with tears rolling down his cheeks. He wipes away tears with a cleaning cloth and hugs the student who gave it to him. Gordan said: “I want to thank every one of you and God bless every one of you.”

The group of students started the fundraising because they liked Gordon so much. A post said: “The Jamaican cleaner in the biomedical library is the jolliest man I have ever met; he makes me smile even when I’m in the deepest depths of sorrow, if you want a reason to smile, go talk to him for a minute or two.”

Anyone who has been to the biomedical library knows who Herman the cleaner is. Simply put, Herman is the epitome（典范）of happiness, “All year round, this man works hours on end to provide us with a clean working space in which to study. But most importantly, his everlasting positive attitude has managed to turn many students’ dark days into positive ones filled with joy,” said a student. Whether you’re just feeling generally down or stressed out due to exams, Herman is always there to encourage you.

This legend proves that happiness is not about what you own, what job you have or how much money you’ve got, but about appreciating what you currently have in life even if it’s small.