A young man met an old man and asked him:

— Do you remember me?

The old man replied, “No, I don’t.”

Then the young man said, “I was one of your students.”

The old man asked:

— Oh really? What do you do now?

The young man answered:

— I became a teacher.

— That’s great! Just like me? — said the old man.

— Yes. I became a teacher because you inspired me to be one.

The old man was curious and asked what moment inspired him.

The young man told this story:

— One day, one of my friends brought a beautiful new watch to school. I wanted it, so I stole it from his pocket. After a while, my friend noticed his watch was missing and told you about it.

You stopped the class and said:

— Someone’s watch was stolen during the lesson. Whoever took it, please return it.

— But I didn’t return it. I was too ashamed.

Then you closed the classroom door and told all of us to stand up. You said you would check everyone’s pockets until the watch was found. But you also told us to close our eyes while you searched.

So we did.

You went through everyone’s pockets, one by one. When you reached mine, you found the watch and took it. But you didn’t stop. You kept checking the others’ pockets too.

Then you said:

— Open your eyes. I found the watch.

You never said anything to me. You didn’t punish me, and you never told anyone it was me. That day was the most embarrassing moment of my life.

But it was also the day I was saved from going down the wrong path. You didn’t lecture me, but your actions spoke louder than words.

That day, I understood what it means to be a real teacher. And that’s why I became one.

Do you remember that day, teacher?

The old man replied:

— I remember the situation and searching for the watch, but I don’t remember you — because I also had my eyes closed.

This is what true teaching is:

If correcting someone means embarrassing them, then you don’t truly know how to teach.