The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One
man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option
in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher,
Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
"You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then
began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make
kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents
can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an iPod, Game Cube or
movie rental... You want to know what I make?" (She paused again
and looked at each and every person at the table.)

"I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them
criticize. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have
respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them
to write and then I make them write. I make them read, read,
read. I make them show all their work in math. I make my
students from other countries learn everything they need to know
in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I
make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I
make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they
were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed
in life."

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.) "Then, when
people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high
and pay no attention. You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"