“The miracle of children is that we just don’t know how they will change or who they will become.”

“By loving them for more than their abilities we show our children that they are much more than the sum of their accomplishments.”

“The path of development is a journey of discovery that is clear only in retrospect, and it’s rarely a straight line.”

“Potential is not an endpoint but a capacity to grow and learn.”

“Brenda cared for our bacteria with a love and affection that some people don’t show their flesh-and-blood children. She would sneak in between classes to coo encouragingly at them, cheering on their growth.”

“I couldn't decide if I was more offended that people thought I was the kind of person who would kill myself over a boyfriend or that I was apparently too stupid to know how to do it right.”

“I thought if I moved away, I could move away from all of it, but the memories were still with me. The fact that I was shy and awkward didn't change just because I changed locations.”