Gymnastics teacher taught disabled girl to walk on her hands — her mom’s thank you left him in tears
Willings coached England schools in Rugby for 5 years and trained the winner of the London Marathon in 1984.
Nick Willings, a retired P.E. coach, always knew he loved teaching; in fact, Willings was quite passionate about his career. However, the former teacher realized his profound impact on kids only after a mother thanked him for changing her disabled daughter's life with just a simple gesture. Speaking with Evan Brady, a content creator, Willings shared that it ultimately marked the beginning of a new and more successful chapter in his career.
Willings confessed he had a great career as a teacher, but interaction with a disabled student's mom really changed how he perceived his profession. The girl couldn't walk on her own; she had calipers on both legs, but that didn't stop her from dreaming big. Willings wanted to help his student in whichever way he could, so the former teacher, who also knew gymnastics, taught her to do a handstand. "And the next thing I knew, her mother came and saw me and said, 'She walks up the stairs on her hands now,'" Willings recalled, while trying to hold back his tears.
A few months after that incident, Willings received a phone call from his former housemaster at Barnard Castle School, informing him about a job opportunity at Durham School. Willings was skeptical he would get selected, especially because two other men from the same school had applied for the same position. However, in the end, Willings got the job, and when he narrated the story of the disabled girl, he was told, "You've got a qualification that is far in advance of these other people, so I had 28 years there," Willings recalled.
From there on, Willings' career soared to new heights; he coached England schools in Rugby for 5 years and trained the winner of the London Marathon in 1984, along with several international athletes. Willings' story is a classic example of how teachers can truly push students to new milestones. However, to allow teachers to make that kind of difference in their students' lives, they also need to be motivated. For instance, a case study on students of government schools in Wakiso district found a direct link between teacher motivation and its influence on students' academic performance.
Researchers have found that when teachers are satisfied with their jobs, students perform better academically. In fact, the motivating factors alone make 55% of the difference in students' academic performance. "Additionally, administrative strategies including regular supervision, professional development workshops, reward programs, and participative leadership were found to significantly enhance both teacher motivation and student academic outcomes," the study noted. However, the reality is far from perfect; many teachers are leaving the profession due to overwhelming workloads, administrative pressure, and a lack of respect. In fact, a 2025 report confirmed that one in five teachers under 30 years of age is considering leaving the profession within the next five years.
Meanwhile, reacting to the P.E teacher's confession, Sariah Jackson commented, "I love how moved he was thinking about that girl and her achievements; what a moving story. Thanks for sharing." Brian Coffey wrote, "People like him should be on a government board or committee to help young teachers navigate their early careers and to make sure they are in it for the right reasons and are responsible for informing young students' minds and life paths. Brilliant." Similarly, Sandra Wardle said, "A proper teacher who loved his craft and the children. They will remember him forever. A hero."
You can follow Evan Bnormal on Facebook for more wholesome stories.
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