Impact on students

Last year on the first day of school, I had a student that stood out in my class.  Her first comment to me after I introduced myself was that I look like a Basketball wife.  She was not a disrespectful student.  Very bright, hard work and eager to learn. Toward the end of the year, she started having difficultly focusing in class and her grade started to slip.  Her mother often called complaining that her daughter stayed up late doing group projects or failed a test. Needless to say, she passed my class and her mother thanked me for pushing her child.
When school started this year, I did not see her and asked some students if she was still enrolled in health are.  Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with this student and talk to her and her mother.  They told me that she had gotten ill over the summer and because of the things I taught her in class last year saved her life.  She had been diagnosed with cancer and the doctors didn't order the right diagnostic test or check her blood work.  Last year, I told my students that no one knows their bodies better than them.  If a doctor tell them nothing is wrong go and get another opinion. Also, she told me that the reason why she is back at school is because of me.  She admire my drive and perseverance. You never know what impression you leave on your students.