In the middle of the first term of school, the whole seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things. His heart was not in school, but in the woods.
One day, Miss White's voice broke into his daydreams. “Steve! Listen carefully!” Steve turned to look at her, fixing his eyes on Miss White, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, her eyes searching his face. “...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!” She just stared at Steve. Steve dropped his eyes.
After that, it was war! Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more serious, he was still stubborn.
“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.
“You're smart enough! You'll see a change!” Nothing touched him.
“Give yourself a chance! Don't give up on your life!” Nothing.
“Steve! Please! I care about you!”
Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it! Someone cared about him! Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, both parents were out. He, quickly, gathered up a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all smiles! God, she was beautiful!
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Miss White's face was in total shock! The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home was the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it!
He discovered that he could understand knowledge and translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to go ahead!