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Ms. Shumway, who was my English and social studies teacher at Portsmouth Middle School, made a big difference for me.

I see 8th grade as a kind of turning point in my life, a time when I became more serious about school and my future. Ms. Shumway took a special interest in some of the kids, including me -- we hung out with her in her classroom at lunchtime, that sort of thing.

She seemed to be able to sense how I was doing and could communicate her support and empathy sometimes even nonverbally. She also gave me a lot of good advice. Things she talked to me about carried more authority than some of the stuff I heard from other adults. That's because she really took the time to know me which made her ideas meaningful and relevant.

I'm now a college sophomore studying languages, Russian, Japanese and Spanish, and sociology. I'm also a Co-Chair for the Multnomah Youth Commission. I believe Ms. Shumway helped get me to where I am today.