When I was a middle school student, I was very common, passive and silent. Even my classmates didn't know whether I was their classmate or not. But my third grade teacher took a good look at me, and he changed my demerits into merits. At first, he looked like a strict teacher, probably because he taught math. But unexpectedly, he was humane, and he always lavished praise on all students, even in trivial matters.
　　　 In the beginning of the first semester, my class had a presidential election. My school record was not so bad, and so I became one of the candidates. I didn't want to run for election because I was afraid of appearing in front of the class, and I thought I would fail in the election.
　　　 So I said to my classmates and teacher, "I'm sorry, but I want to withdraw from the election. I don't have any makings of a monitor."
　　　 But my teacher said, encouraging me, "How do you know that you don't have such makings? The challenge will make you grow. Don't give up!"
　　　 In defiance of shame, I ran in the election and said in a tremulous voice to my classmates, "My name is Yun Hye Young. If you elect me as a monitor, I'll sincerely perform my duties. I'll follow your decision."
　　　 My classmates showed no reactions. As might have been expected, I wasn't elected a monitor, but my classmates and teacher elected me to serve as class treasurer. I was very surprised and pleased, but on the other hand, I felt a burden. So I honestly performed my job, like the management of our class money, and I was recognized for my sincerity by my classmates and teacher.
　　　 Furthermore, all students in my school had to watch an educational TV program every morning. So every month they bought a book for the educational program, but I didn't have to buy one, because I got it from my teacher. All teachers were offered free teaching materials by their school, and so they used to give them to their students. Sometimes I used to get some mathematics books from him, because he taught math and he had many kinds of mathematics books. I studied hard, especially math, to repay him for his favor. Finally, at the graduation ceremony, I got a special prize for the first time. I was excited and proud of myself. From this experience, I gained confidence and interest in studying.
　　　 Last, I hated my personality which was shy, passive and curt. I took a long time to make friends with my classmates. My classmates also said that I was very silent and tactless. But my teacher praised me for having feminine qualities.　 I always thought that my personality was a demerit, but my teacher considered it to be a merit. So I gradually built up
self-confidence in my personality and tried to change my passivity into positiveness.
　　　 Now I'm still a little passive and curt, but sometimes I can make a joke, and if possible I try to take a positive attitude in everything. I always thank my teacher for being concerned about me to the last and making me find my confidence and merits, such as sincerity, femininity and wit. He is teaching math in high school now. When I met him last winter vacation, he was still a merciful teacher who loves all his students. I'd like to be a teacher like him, too.