I'm Inspirational? Me??
About 10 years ago, I volunteered at my elementary school and tutored some children. One girl in particular needed a little extra help. She was about to fail first grade for the second time because she wasn't very good with English and especially had trouble with Math.
Unlike most small children who are failing at something, this girl wasn't some hyper-active ADD-type kid who was failing simply because she wasn't paying attention; this girl was actually very smart and quite thoughtful: her teacher just couldn't explain things in a way that got through to her.
I was able to bring her grade up from an F to an A. I was called back a few months later to receive a special award from the school in front of an assembly of people.
Like I said, that was about 10 years ago.
Today, the little girl's aunt came into my work place (Del Taco) and recognized me right off. She said that Christina (the girl) is doing great now and that she still talks of me often. She said that Christina was not only eternally grateful to me for getting her out of the hell that is first grade, but that she is especially fond of the memories of our break times. We would sit and draw together. Or I would make up some lame little story and she would illustrate it.
Christina credits me as her inspiration to become an illustrator.
Zuh???
It's a weird feeling. Normally, when one does a good deed (or any deed!) for a stranger, they don't get a chance to glimpse into the future and see how their actions will impact that person's life down the road.
Pretty neat.
--Lauren*
Unlike most small children who are failing at something, this girl wasn't some hyper-active ADD-type kid who was failing simply because she wasn't paying attention; this girl was actually very smart and quite thoughtful: her teacher just couldn't explain things in a way that got through to her.
I was able to bring her grade up from an F to an A. I was called back a few months later to receive a special award from the school in front of an assembly of people.
Like I said, that was about 10 years ago.
Today, the little girl's aunt came into my work place (Del Taco) and recognized me right off. She said that Christina (the girl) is doing great now and that she still talks of me often. She said that Christina was not only eternally grateful to me for getting her out of the hell that is first grade, but that she is especially fond of the memories of our break times. We would sit and draw together. Or I would make up some lame little story and she would illustrate it.
Christina credits me as her inspiration to become an illustrator.
Zuh???
It's a weird feeling. Normally, when one does a good deed (or any deed!) for a stranger, they don't get a chance to glimpse into the future and see how their actions will impact that person's life down the road.
Pretty neat.
--Lauren*