Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! When I was a senior in high school, I 1 knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career. Writing had basically 2 me when I was only 7 years old, 3 since that time, I’d been bombarded by guidance counselors and career planners who all 4 me to have “a back-up plan” in case writing didn’t work out. I’d never even 5 a different career path, so I was very 6 and worried. After much thought, I decided 7 would be my “back-up plan,” and I signed up for a class through my high school. This 8 that every morning, I would serve as a teacher’s helper for my favorite 6th grade teacher, Mr. Ralston. Morning after morning, I showed up in Mr. Ralston’s classroom and 9 papers for him. Sometimes, I even 10 a lesson or two. It was fun, and the students seemed to like me, so I was surprised when it came time for my 11 . Mr. Ralston looked me right in the eyes and asked, “Do you really want to teach?” “Had I really been that 12 ?” I thought. “Don’t misunderstand. You’ll do fine in teaching,” he continued. “But, is your 13 really in it?” “Not really,” I 14 . “I want to write. I want to write news stories and fiction and poetry and so much more...but I’ve been told it’s tough to make it as a writer 15 I thought maybe I would teach and then use my summers 16 to pursue writing.” As I shared with Mr. Ralston my hopes, dreams and carefully plotted-out back-up plan, he smiled and said, “Why are you preparing to 17 with this back-up plan? If you want to be a writer, go for it! Pursue writing!” Mr. Ralston’s 18 to follow my dreams was the little nudge I needed to help me push past my 19 of not making it as a writer and simply “Go for it!” That’s what an encouraging word will do when spoken in love in 20 season. So, let’s try and be like Mr. Ralston and speak that word of encouragement at just the right time and make a difference in someone’s life today.