My stutter(口吃)had always been much of a problem.I'd had so many specialists forMy stutter had always been much of a problem.I'd had so many specialists for my speech over the years.As l walked down the hallway to meet a new one,memories popped in my head of how painful being a kid who stutters had been.It still hurt.“Hello!I'm Mrs.Claussen.I hear you're from Texas!" “Ye-Ye-Ye-Yes m-m-m-m-m-m-m-aam I am…”My heart felt like it was pounding through my ch

My stutter(口吃)had always been much of a problem.I'd had so many specialists for
My stutter had always been much of a problem.I'd had so many specialists for my speech over the years.As l walked down the hallway to meet a new one,memories popped in my head of how painful being a kid who stutters had been.It still hurt.“Hello!I'm Mrs.Claussen.I hear you're from Texas!" “Ye-Ye-Ye-Yes m-m-m-m-m-m-m-aam I am…”My heart felt like it was pounding through my chest and my hands were dripping wet.I really blew that introduction.“Well," she said with a kind smile.“I've always liked Texas." She turned out to be the best speech specialist I've ever had,not like those who told me to clap my hands while speaking.She was different.She spent the first several weeks just talking to me - asking me all kinds of questions about myself,especially my feelings.And she listened.She then began to teach me about the speech.Not just about my speech,but about everybody's.I sang in my old school and was a pretty good tenor,but I learned that the new school's singing group was all filled up.It was such bad news,for I thought that was the one thing I could really do well - and I could do it without stuttering.Somehow Mrs.Claussen finally got me in the group.I felt like she really cared about me as a person,not just a speech student.During the next two years,my speech didn't get much better - except with her.When I was in college,things got worse.I once even wondered if I would ever be able to communicate!It was a very depressing time,and I often felt alone.When I was feeling really sorry for myself,I remembered Mrs.Claussen had told me whether I could change my speech was all up to me.She had told me not to fight for perfect speech,just better speech.She was right about that.I finally improved my speech greatly.Many years have passed,but I think of her from time to time,wondering if she had as much influence on her other students as she had on me.I like to think that she did.Her name was Mrs.Claussen...and she cared.I'II never forget her.