Math Teacher Crosses Boundaries

As a teacher, I watched Maxim while he was concentrating on a math problem. There was determination in his eyes, but the task was really difficult. We worked through each step, and I tried to explain concepts and methods to him using illustrative examples and analogies. Maxim carefully wrote down notes and asked questions when something remained unclear. His eyebrows formed a light pencil as he compared different solutions to the problem. As time passed, his hope of success began to waver. At some point, Maxim lowered his hands and sighed with sadness. Emotions and frustration were evident on his face. He was smart and purposeful, and the failure in solving the problem clearly did not give rest to his hot mind for a long time. To support him, I came closer, put my hand on his shoulder and said, "Maxim, don't give up. Sometimes difficult tasks require more time and perseverance. We can try a different approach." My words were filled with support and inspiration. ....