lewin 2005 - iEARN Australia International Education and Resource ...

Who I want to be
I'm only 14 years old, but with the things I've put myself through I know
who I want to be. I want to be an unselfish person. I want to think of
others, rather than just myself. When things get tough I want to be the
one who says, "Keep your head up." I want to give advice instead of
asking for it. I want to be strong and someone that people look up to.
I've done a lot of stupid things, but the stupidest had to be this past
summer when I ran away. Because of my running away, my sister and I
found ourselves helping out during summer school at the school that my
aunt had worked at the previous school year. Her best friend, Sharon,
was one of the teachers for a group of disabled students attending
summer school. A senseless action of mine would now be getting me
into the most eye-opening experience of my life.
Throughout the time period of about a month we got to meet and interact
with some of the most amazing kids. These kids were so different from
us, but they were the coolest people. It seemed as if they didn't care
about their disabilities. They could have had the hardest life in the world,
but you would have never guessed. They were so cheerful and happy to
have us working with them.
They strived for our attention and it felt so good to give it to them, to
have a relationship with people who have had the most difficult pasts. I
thought I had it bad, but your outlook on life changes dramatically when
you've experienced an opportunity like this. If I saw these kids again,
and they were old enough to understand, I would let them know how
grateful I am to have met them and helped them learn. Not only did we
teach them academics, but those children taught me a little something
more: that life's not as rough as we, with no physical or mental
disabilities, make it to be.
I think I always exaggerated to myself how bad my life was. Because of
them I think of others, not just myself. And before I complain I think of
them and the life-long lesson I learned from them and will cherish
forever.
ReAnna
John Muir School, San Diego
U.S.A.
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