Her cat has died, her prospectus committee has asked for major revisions, and she is living in Texas. To earn extra money until she has fulfilled all the PhD requirements, Miss Thorpe has accepted an instructor position at a local community college. She has been assigned a developmental literature class, and the students--in her opinion--are ill-prepared for any level. She begins with twenty-three students, but the number quickly drops to fourteen. After two days of class, one student commented, "Professors like that make me want to give up." "I can see why she's a 'Miss'," said another. But Nita Garcia is determined to make a better life for herself and her children. She is not going to let one rude teacher spoil her dreams. Neither is Jeremy, who has promised his mother that he will go to college. And LaKeisha will simply not tolerate the haughty Miss Thorpe. Read how the students become the teachers to the professor as they share details of the harsh realities of their lives. Learn how their stories impact Miss Thorpe and her teaching methods. And see how respect and understanding can truly change lives.