In this article, the author tells a story which has lived in her for more than 25 years. She was in the 7th grade. She remembers April as a time of hardship because that was the month that the "people" came to shut one's power off. They did, that is, if one followed the you-don't-have-to-pay-during-the-winter-because-they-can't-shut-you-off policy. The authorities couldn't or wouldn't shut the electricity off between November and March. It was too cold and people could die without power. "Candles in April" was a moment in the author's life that was hard, but it made her strong. There can be strength in struggle and hardship. That time of her life taught her to be resourceful. But the effects linger in surprising ways. To this day, the smell of candle wax makes her cringe. On a daily basis teachers bring to class their backgrounds, their experiences, and their perceptions about the world. Sometimes the qualities and circumstances that make their lives "normal" do not match those of the students.