25 years ago CBS News' David Begnaud met a teacher who believed in him — and changed his life. Here's their story.

David Begnaud is the lead national correspondent for "CBS Mornings."  This is his personal story about the teacher who became his mentor and life-long friend. 

It's been 25 years since I met the woman who changed the direction of my life. Josette Cook Surratt was an English teacher at Teurlings Catholic High School in 1998, and I was a 15-year-old freshman who was gay at a time when that was not readily accepted. I also had been diagnosed with Tourette's, which was also not well-understood at the time.