janbear
11-09-2006, 10:35 AM
Olson's Story-
Never underestimate the power of your actions, By Olsen Place
One day, during my freshman year in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home. His name was Kyle. It appeared as if he was carrying all of his text books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and shoved him, making him land in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet away. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him.
So, I jogged over to help him. As he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. I handed him his glasses and I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I had never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty
cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. My friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "**************** it boy, you're goanna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!"
He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, and began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for a business degree on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class and as he prepare a speech for our graduation, I teased him the whole time about being a nerd.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. On graduation day, Kyle looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He had filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls just loved him! Boy, sometimes I even was jealous. Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
He looked at me with one of those looks (a really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and retorted. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly it's your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. Now I'm going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He then looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. I believe we were all put in each other's lives to impact one another in some special way.
Olsen Place
Never underestimate the power of your actions, By Olsen Place
One day, during my freshman year in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home. His name was Kyle. It appeared as if he was carrying all of his text books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and shoved him, making him land in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet away. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him.
So, I jogged over to help him. As he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. I handed him his glasses and I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I had never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty
cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. My friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "**************** it boy, you're goanna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!"
He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, and began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for a business degree on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class and as he prepare a speech for our graduation, I teased him the whole time about being a nerd.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. On graduation day, Kyle looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He had filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls just loved him! Boy, sometimes I even was jealous. Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
He looked at me with one of those looks (a really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and retorted. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly it's your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. Now I'm going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He then looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. I believe we were all put in each other's lives to impact one another in some special way.
Olsen Place