There’s a fun contest being run by my good friend, Michael Werner, CEO of InfoSource. They are calling it “Perk Up Your Classroom.” Won’t you take a moment of your time and visit them to find out what it’s all about? They are offering cool prizes including Amazon gift certificates, supplies from Staples, and an Ipod Shuffle!

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Peggy’s list actually gave me an idea. While I’ve shown the following YouTube video before, I’ve never actually asked you to help me pass it along. According to traffic statistics at Adversity University, about 100 people a day stop by for a visit. If each one of you took a few minutes to forward this video to 5 people on your list, that you personally know would be inspired by its contents, that means at least 500 people could witness the power of three words that once tumbled out of a fifth grade teacher’s lips so many years ago.

As you will see in the video, Mrs. Jordan simply said three words, “THAT’S RIGHT, STEPHEN!”, forever causing a ripple effect that continues to expand even 30 years later. I have written a book with that title (which I expect to publish in 2008) and plan to do a bus tour that same year. By speaking of how much of difference she made in my life, this is my way of giving back to her and reminding current/future teachers that they are very much needed in today’s classroom.

Can you imagine if teachers knew the potential impact on their students the way Mrs. Jordan impacted mine?

Will you help me pay it forward? You are invited to do this a couple of ways:

1. Click the “Share” button at the end of the video and follow their instructions (YouTube provides three ways of passing this forward easily and effortlessly).

2. At the end at the very bottom of this post, there’s a “Share This.” Click on that and you’ll be able to forward the entire blog entry to people you think should see this.

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While I was re-reading it, I felt inspired to bring back the tale of the missing purple stapler because I found it so deeply touching. The amount of adversity faced by teachers is staggering. The last time the Adversity University community heard about Miss Dennis was back in October 2006. Now that traffic and the number of subscribers to this site have gone up, I felt it was time to bring back one of my favorite teacher stories and expose it to a wider audience.

Here it is: The Purple Stapler

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I was going through a box of old photos and found these. Can you guess which stories from this blog these photos are affiliated with? I had completely forgotten I had these because otherwise I would have posted them on the blog along with the stories I wrote several months ago.

Who is that lady in black with “salt and pepper” hair? Can you guess?

If your response was: “Hey, that’s Mrs. Jordan, the fifth grade teacher who you surprised on the “Leeza” show!”, that means you’ve read the now-famous stories about the impact she made on my life so many years ago.  Click here for the story about that day on the talk show.   

The young girl standing next to Leeza is the daughter of Mrs. Jordan who accompanied her on the flight to Hollywood. Her job was not only to keep her company but to keep her mother guessing why she was coming out to the show. After it was over, the three of us (Mrs. Jordan, her daughter and I) went out to dinner at Universal Studios and caught up on 30 years worth of stuff. We had a great time. She sent me a thank you card in the mail, which I still have. That was in 1998. Mrs. Jordan is now enjoying retirement. We still keep in touch by email.

If you’re new to this blog and have no clue who this special lady is and what she did to cause such a powerful ripple effect in a little deaf boy’s life, then may I suggest you grab your favorite beverage and carve out a few minutes of your time for storytime reading? If you happen to be a documentary filmmaker or know someone who is, wouldn’t it be cool if the stories you’re about to read was turned into a documentary for PBS or Discovery Channel or even PAX Television? Yeah! How cool would that be?

Here they are:

1. Adversity in Elementary School
2. Three Words
3. The Bully
4. Leeza Show

P.S. FYI, I now have a keynote speech called “That’s Right Stephen!” about the impact Mrs. Jordan made with those three words uttered so many years ago in fifth grade. You can read the description of that speech here.

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Not long ago, I came upon Mr. McNamar’s blog “The Daily Grind” who wrote an article called, “Would the Real Parents Please Stand Up…….” It touched my heart and I think it will touch yours as well.

Please click here to see it.

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Several of them were contacted via email, letting them know how much I enjoyed their heart wrenching experiences and given links to my own stories about Mrs. Jordan, my fifth grade teacher (see below). What I hope to do is remind them that they really do make a difference despite the difficulties they face on a daily basis (i.e. irate parents, apathetic students, tight budgets and bureaucrats who have “red tape” permanently tattooed across their foreheads, etc.)

On Friday of last week, I posted a link to a teacher’s blog who wrote a gut wrenching account of the “stolen purple stapler.” Today, I found another heartwarming story entitled “Speak the Encouraging Word” written by a “California Teacher.” His article reminded me of what Mrs. Jordan did for me so many years ago. Please take a moment to read his article for it will remind you just how powerful words can be in another person’s life, especially a young one.

If you’ve not read my fifth grade teacher stories, they are listed below for your convenience. You will want to read them in the following order to get the most impact:

1. Adversity in Elementary School
2. Three Words
3. The Bully at Blue Creek Elementary School
4. Leeza Show

Since my blog is about dealing with adversity and because I’m on a huge crusade to inspire teachers out there, I will continue to post teacher-related stories that touch me to the core. If you find similar emotionally provoking stories, please let me know and I’ll post them here.

My goal is to remind teachers of why they became one in the first place. I want them to know that if they plant a powerful seed in a young person’s life, there’s no telling what can happen to them when they grow up.

After all, look at what happened when Mrs. Jordan first planted a seed in my mind with only three words and how I went on to become an award-winning stockbroker, motivational speaker, author and pilot. In fact, many of you saw how I became the world’s first deaf instrument rated pilot earlier this year, a feat considered impossible by “so-called experts.” Besides my mom and dad (who were major positive influencers in my life), Mrs. Jordan planted a powerful seed that caused an incredible ripple effect, enabling me to achieve the impossible later in life.

What could be more powerful then that?

Food for thought: Will you help me with my crusade to inspire teachers around the globe by giving them links to my teacher stories?

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Their challenges include but are not limited to: students who do not want to learn, increasing student to teacher ratios, unwieldy educational bureaucracies, insanely tight budgets (would you believe teachers are forced to buy supplies out of their own pockets?) and irate, controlling parents.

One especially poignant story involves a stolen purple stapler that belonged to a special education teacher from the Bronx, New York. I encourage you to visit her blog let her words tug at your heart.

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About 8 years ago, I was in my New York City apartment one Saturday morning and was thinking about all the people in my life who had made a difference. There were many but my fifth grade teacher’s face swam into focus. The image of her powerful smile was crystal clear.

As soon as I saw her in my mind’s eye, my attention immediately focused on a way to thank her. I got quiet and reflected on this. A few moments later an idea was born.

Why not thank her on a national talk show? What could be better than that?

The idea was so strong, so powerful and what’s more, it felt right. After firing off a letter to six national talk shows, I kept it to myself and waited. Ideas should be allowed to percolate and develop in secret before they are shared with the rest of the world. There is a time and place for everything so I prayed that if it was meant to be, then Mrs. Jordan would be presented with a big surprise at just the right time.

Within two weeks I was atonished to hear back from The View and Leeza (no longer on the air today) and The Gayle King Show (King is Oprah’s best friend – her show is also no longer on the air). From that moment on, everything was a dizzying blur.

Of the three shows, the producers of Leeza were quicker to make arrangements while those at The View and The Gayle King Show dragged their feet. My intuition told me to go with Leeza and not wait for the others to make up their minds.

Mrs. Jordan was one of those teachers who never missed a day of class and didn’t want to go to California to accept a “teaching excellence award.” Good heavens, her fifth grade students were far more important than some frivolous award!

She was so stubborn that the Leeza producers were forced to enlist the help of her husband, her daughter and even the school principal to convince her to appear on the show. Thanks to their herculean efforts, they were finally able to cajole her into taking a few days off without revealing the real reasons for going.

So far so good.

Less than a week later, she and her daughter boarded a flight to Hollywood while I boarded a different plane out of JFK, several hundred miles away.

When I arrived at the hotel in California, I was shocked to learn that they were staying in a room only one floor above me! Since the taping wasn’t scheduled until the next morning and while I wanted to avoid bumping into them, I didn’t exactly relish the idea of being cooped up in my room and ordering room service. So I came up with a plan.

In the mood for a little local sightseeing, I put on a pair of dark sunglasses, my favorite baseball cap and then peeked out into the hallway before making a mad dash for the stairways. Yes, I know. I know. Watched too many spy movies. Still I can dream a little can’t I?

On the morning of the taping, the hotel security staff came up to my room and escorted me to the service elevator for a ride down down to first floor where a presidential-like limousine was waiting for me behind the hotel.

Forty-five minutes later, the fifth grade teacher and her daughter went through the hotel lobby out to the front where a bell hop was standing at the door of another black limousine.

Talk shows sure know how to treat their guests!

Upon arriving at the Paramount lot, I was led to the “green room,” where guests waiting to go on the show sipped tea, coffee or even booze (if they were desperate enough for one). I opted for plain water, my mouth was parched.

While waiting, a very frazzled producer stopped by and quickly requested that I make a short 10-second statement on tape to be played later. I said something like “Mrs. Jordan, you made a very big difference in my life I am here to thank you for it.” She snatched the tape and disappeared like there was no tomorrow. I was alone again.

Looking around the room, I was mesmerized by all the photos on the red walls of famous people who were previously on the Leeza show. I was jostled out of my reverie when the door suddenly burst open and the same producer was back.

Mouthing the words, she said, “It’s time. Follow me please.” I felt a lurch in my stomach. Here we go. The producer hurriedly led me to the studio where Leeza and the studio audience were waiting for me.

After personally introducing herself to me (Leeza was very warm and articulate, instantly putting me at ease), the red dome lights on all the cameras were blinking, which meant they were now taping.

Sitting next to me, Leeza started off the show by asking me what it was Mrs. Jordan did for me over 30 years ago. I related the story about how 3 words, “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN” was such a powerful moment and how it forever changed my life.

Pointing to cheap double doors behind me, Leeza said, “Stephen, why don’t you step over to the other side and hide behind those doors? When it’s time for you to come out and surprise Mrs. Jordan, a technician will signal you.”

On my way to the hiding place, I stretched my arms out and said, “I hope she recognizes me!”

Once hidden from view, Leeza called out to the teacher, “Okay, come out Mrs. Jordan.”

A camera on the floor with rollers was positioned by the entrance to the studio so that viewers watching television could see the apprehensive teacher make her way in from a different, albeit lower angle. Leeza guided Mrs. Jordan to her seat and gave her a few seconds to get comfortable.

“Do you know why you’re here today, Mrs. Jordan?” Leeza inquired.

“No” she said apprehensively.

“Well, it’s a good thing. It’s a very good thing. Someone wrote to us and said that you are to be honored for making a very big difference in this person’s life. We’re going to play a tape to see if you recognize this person’s voice.”

“Okay,” said the now quivering teacher. She went to pull out a Kleenex, almost knocking the box off the table.

While all of this was going on, I was watching everything through a closed-circuit monitor on the floor. When I first saw her walk in, I almost let out a yelp. She looked exactly the same and not a day older. I recognized her immediately. Goose bumps spread like wildfire all over my body.

Leeza nodded to some invisible technician to play the recording.

The main camera zoomed in closer to Mrs. Jordan. An instant flash of recognition spread across her face, causing tears to well up.

“Mrs. Jordan, do you know who that was?” Leeza asked gently.

“Yes.”

“Well, who was it?”

Stifling a sniffle, she said, “Stephen Hopson”

My hand flew to my mouth. After all these years, my favorite teacher still remembered me!

Leeza nodded yet again to the invisible technician who suddenly materialized next to me. It was time to go out and greet my former teacher for the first time in 30 years.

Taking a deep breath, I gave the fragile stage door a powerful shove and swung it open, slammed my right foot forward and opened my arms far and wide, inviting her to come and hug me.

The teacher made her way to where I was standing and hugged me tightly. We didn’t want to let each other go. Putting my left arm around her, I made a sweeping motion with my right hand over the audience and whispered, “All this for you.”

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

We made our way to our seats and she pulled out another Kleenex, this time knocking the box to the floor.

“Oops.”

“Mrs. Jordan, you remember Stephen extremely well?”

Dabbing her eyes, she nodded.

“What do you remember about Stephen?” (pictures of me as a child with my dog played in the background)

Glancing upward to gather her thoughts, she said, “Well, he was smart, well behaved and a hard worker.”

Leeza turned to me and said, “Stephen would you like to say a few words?”

I grabbed the former teacher’s hand, positioned myself so that we were looking at each other in the eye and said, “Mrs. Jordan, you made a very big difference in my life 30 years ago. You took me under your wing and believed in me. You said “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN” and that forever changed my life. You’re here on the show today because I wanted to thank you for that.”

She reached for the Kleenex box again, with Leeza standing nearby – just in case.

Sobbing, Mrs. Jordan said, “Thank you Stephen, thank you.”

Click here for some photos of us posing after the show was over.

Food for thought: You don’t necessarily have to thank someone on a national talk show but is there someone who really turned your life around and you want to remember and thank that person this week?

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A week after Mrs. Jordan belted out those three words; I was out on the playground during lunch recess. It was a beautiful spring day. Skies were clear and the warm, gentle breeze was blowing across the landscape. I always loved the spring. It always put me in a good mood. I felt as if the warm spring breeze caressed my face, giving me the feeling that I was being taken care of.

Ten minutes into lunch recess I saw David, the class bully sauntering towards me. He walked with a cocky swagger, his lips pursed like Elvis Presley. It was typical of an undefeated bully in those days. Up to that point he had literally beaten up everyone else in the whole school, except for me. Not that I was tough or anything but he left me alone for some reason.

Today must be my turn, I thought. My body went rigid with tension. I didn’t dare move. With steady eyes, I watched him approach me.

My eyes did a quick dart around – the other kids were fast forming a circle around me like a bunch of spectators at Madison Square Garden. There was just enough room for David to enter the circle.

As soon as he made his grand entrance, the circle closed up immediately. It was almost as if the other kids didn’t want to let either of us to get away without first shedding some blood.

My heart quickened with each step he made towards me. I licked my lips and didn’t dare move. I had no idea what I was going to do or say.

I slowly turned my head to face the bully. He was still on his way with a sneer on his face.

Almost as if some unseen force took over, I suddenly shoved my right palm upward, like a traffic policeman.

Thrown off guard, the bully slowed to a crawl.

I licked my lips some more.

Back in those days, I wore a hearing aid box that was harnessed by a strap that wrapped around my chest. It was an albatross that shouldered the hearing box in place. There were two hearing aid cords that ran from the hearing aid box up to both ears. Although the box was underneath my shirt, its rectangular shape stuck out like a sore thumb. It looked as if I had just stepped off a spaceship.

Back to the bully. In the next instant my life was forever changed.

Dripping with sarcasm, I pointed to my chest and said, “Kid, do you see this hearing aid box? “

The bully snickered some more and cackled like the cruel witch in “The Wizard of Oz.” As he was doing that, his eyes briefly flickered. No one else noticed it but I did. It gave me a little more courage.

I raised my voice another notch and told him, “IF YOU PUNCH THIS BOX, IT’LL BLOW UP THE WHOLE SCHOOL!” My hands clapped like thunder, startling the bully.

His face turned paper white with widening eyes. He slowly took one step back and then another and then another. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the circle was once again opening up behind him.

Then he did something that forever ruined his rough and tumble image.

He ran home as fast as his legs would carry him!

I folded my arms across my chest and triumphantly watched the figure of David grow smaller and smaller. Then I looked around at the other kids – they were laughing, clapping and whooping. Others were vigorously rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

Wow! Did I really defeat the bully? I had just whipped his ass without having to lay a hand on him. Man, how was that possible?

Well, would you believe I became the most popular kid in the whole school after that? My confidence soared like never before. All of a sudden everyone wanted to be my friend.

Sometimes we find out that we have courage when we’re tested. We never want to be tested like this because when we think about it, it’s very scary but it does happen and we’re all stronger because of the adversial experience.

The story illustrates the power of how someone else can make a difference in our lives. My fifth grade teacher told me years later that she had no idea how much of an impact she made on my life in her classroom the week before the bully incident. If she hadn’t called on me and thundered THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN! The bully might have beaten me to a bloody pulp.

Who knows? 

The final story continues to this page.

Let me ask you this: Have you taken a moment to REMEMBER who made a difference in your life today? Write that person a thank you note. Drop in unexpectantly and say hello!

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A large woman with salt and pepper hair, and twinkling brown eyes, Mrs. Jordan, my fifth grade teacher, had a voice that boomeranged off the walls of her tiny classroom. The school was Blue Creek Elementary in Latham, New York (just outside Albany).

On one sunny afternoon, she asked the class a question. I read her lips from my front-row seat and immediately raised my hand.

I couldn’t believe it – despite my fears, I felt uncharacteristically confident because — for once — I was sure I had the right answer.

But, when she called on me, I was suddenly afraid. Here was an opportunity to impress the powerful teacher and show her I was worthy of her love. Maybe even impress my classmates a little.

I didn’t want to blow it. I took a deep breath and nervously answered her question.

Her explosive response startled all of us.

She enthusiastically slammed her right foot on the floor and whirled her finger a full circle until it pointed directly at me. With sparkling eyes and a wide smile she cried, “THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN!”

For the first time in my young life, I felt like an instant star. My heart burst with pride as an ear-to-ear grin filled my face. I sat a little taller in my chair and puffed out my chest. My confidence soared.

It was amazing how a simple three-word phrase delivered with incredible enthusiasm had totally transformed my young life.

“THAT’S RIGHT STEPHEN!”

All it took was three words to get me to think that I would make a place for myself in this world no matter how many obstacles I had to overcome. From that day forward, my grades and speech improved dramatically. My peers suddenly looked at me with new respect and my outlook on life did a complete turnabout.

The next story “The Bully…..” demonstrates the power of Mrs. Jordan’s three words.

FYI, I now have a keynote speech called “That’s Right Stephen!” for speaking engagements. You can see the speech description here.  There’s also a YouTube video showing me giving Mrs. Jordan a surprise of a lifetime on a national talk show to thank her for saying those three words.  Click here to see it.

Let me ask you this: Have you taken a moment to REMEMBER who helped you in your life?

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