(Another in a series of Student Essays)
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou
We deal with people every day that may not be as fortunate as we are and may not have what we have. I have learned that if you have something that you could big or small you should because it leaves a lasting effect on a person. Although I have always been the type of person to give and do great things for people, but this year I see people that are really appreciative for the little things. As I read the story Laughing Yoga Frog I found it to be a very good story because you have a teacher that wanted this frog from Cracker Barrel that she thought was gone after a few times of visiting the restaurant, but she was able to get the last one for 80% off. She had a student name Alex that was in wheel chair and he had a man name Reggie that would help him to class, but one day they discovered that Reggie was taking money from Alex's account. Through the pictures that the teacher would take at the end of every semester she was able to help catch Reggie which was a name she made up for the guy. Although she wrote this book, she had also given the frog to Alex even though she had wanted it really bad.
This semester I met a teacher who not only teaches her students about history, but she teaches them about values and how it’s good to give back. It's normal to cook food for people you know, but when I got the chance to cook food for people at Veterans village that made me see how the little things count the most. I really extended a helping hand this year because I cooked food a couple times for strangers that’s something that I never thought of doing. Not everyone has a family to go home too that could cook for them, no they might remember my face but they will remember how students came with their teacher and help serve them. Although it begin in class just the thought of me doing something for someone else is good because I know how it feels to not having much and to have people give to my family so that’s why one of my goals in life is to always find a way to give back to people whether I'm at work, at school or just out in the community it’s always good to give back.
For my service project I decided to buy Alex a body wash giftset. While choosing that gift I thought it would be nice because everyone likes to smell good. When thinking about what I should get him, I thought of something that I would want as a present because I always learned that when you are thinking about giving someone something, never give them anything that you wanted you like for yourself. Even though this is someone I have never met, when choosing his gift I asked a friend that I work with, that’s a guy, would this be something that he would like? And he said yes. So that was some assistance in choosing the gift. I also decided to get him a card because I know if someone was sending me a gift that I would like to read something along with my gift. I also brought Alex some snacks that he could enjoy as well. Even though it’s a project for class I still have to be considerate as if it was a gift for someone I know. Doing this is a good thing because we never know what someone is going through and it’s the holiday season so sending a stranger a gift will not only make them feel good and feel important but it will leave a lasting effect on them that will never forget. It’s also something forget because it is something that I have never done before. So doing this makes me feel good because I was able to take part in bringing someone joy.
From going to the Veterans Village and sending Alex something for Christmas this semester has put a lasting joy on me because through this class I have served people by cooking meals and sending a gift. Anyone can do these things, but it takes a person with a heart to do it and actually find joy in doing things such as I did this semester.
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy."
- Rabindranath Tagore
