Beginning in the 1970s and spanning three and a half decades, "The Lives I've Touched" is a memoir of the author's experiences as a teacher and guidance counselor in the New York City school system. The book highlights her efforts to make a difference in the lives of students, many of whom had to overcome difficult home situations. The experiences she recounts, often with a good sense of humor, show that optimism and determination on the part of the counselor/teacher can have an enormous impact on their future success.