A skilled clinical social worker offers us a case study that demonstrates our power to positively influence the lives of others. To protect their privacy, I will call the social worker and her patient "Sandra Johnson, M.S.W." and "Andrew."

Sandra Johnson is a woman who genuinely likes other people. That is why she was unusually distressed by the difficulty she was having with her patient, Andrew.

Andrew had been committed to the residential school for juvenile offenders where Ms. Johnson worked. All of his teachers said that he had an "attitude problem."

Sandra Johnson had to agree.

Although intelligent, Andrew was failing most of his classes. He was so irritating and aggravating that even Ms. Johnson didn't like him. In fact, she had come to dread her twice-a-week counseling sessions with him.

In her inability to reach Andrew, Sandra Johnson also was failing. Ms. Johnson does not fail often or accept failure easily.

She struggled with Andrew's situation. Finally, she had an idea. Enlisting the help of Andrew's teachers, she gave them a very simple assignment.

"I'm going to try something different with Andrew," she told the teachers. "All that I ask of you is to watch for any noticeable, positive change in his classroom performance or behavior. Then, we will assess how my strategy is working during our next regular meeting on his case."

Andrew's teachers were so frustrated with him that they readily agreed to her request.

Several weeks later, when Sandra Johnson and Andrew walked into their next teachers' meeting, they found three blackboards full of the positive things that his teachers had noticed about him and written down.

As Andrew read through his teachers' comments, the expression on his face slowly changed. For the very first time, his social worker and teachers noticed that he has a rather pleasant smile.

After Andrew had left the room, the teacher who had been most critical of him remarked, "I don't know what you have been doing with that boy, Ms. Johnson, but the transformation in his behavior and grades has been nothing short of remarkable."

Sandra Johnson could only smile. She hadn't done anything different in her counseling with Andrew. All that she had done was to convince his teachers to look for capabilities and other positive traits in this boy whom no one liked.

Without fully realizing what was happening, Andrew's teachers began to change the dynamic of their relationships with him. Ms. Johnson's request had encouraged them to notice Andrew's positive characteristics - rather than dwelling only upon the limitations they had come to expect.

When the teachers looked closely, they noticed all of Andrew for the very first time. The change in their attitude awakened and reinforced the potential that had always been Andrew's to offer, permanently transforming his life....

Recently, I thought about Andrew's story while speaking to an awards banquet sponsored by the Baltimore County Office of Employment and Training. The county's counselors, teachers and their business partners were honoring men and women who had come to them for help, worked hard and succeeded.

I commended the students, but their teachers have earned the greater honor. They are wonderful people who understand and are applying the power of Andrew's story.

At some time in our lives, many of us have been in Andrew's position. Until someone noticed the value we had to offer, we were that person whom no one liked.

From our own experience, we know that seeking the value in others - searching for and discovering their assets, rather than dwelling upon their limitations - can change their lives.

By acting upon our higher expectations of others, we help them fulfill their dreams.