Are you curious how an eight-year-old taught a teenager to grow up? I know, it’s a dramatic title, but it got your attention, right? I mean, how did an eight-year-old teach a teenager to grow up? Well, in this instance, the eight year old knew a lot more than me. That’s right – I was the teenager in this story! It all started when I was in a High School government class that required me to volunteer locally. I was less than thrilled about having to volunteer because it was a summer class. And, I remember thinking, what does volunteering have to do with Government? You see…
I was mad because I was a dramatic teenager!
I got upset and threw a bit of a tantrum because I didn’t have “time” during that quick summer class to volunteer! Clearly, I had no idea what “I don’t have time” really meant. Oh, how limited a teenager can be! So, there I was, having to volunteer when I valued my free time more than anything and guess what…
I was mad because I was a dramatic teenager…and I didn’t have time to volunteer!
But, it was required to pass the class, so I begrudgingly signed up with my two best friends to volunteer at the last available location: Ability First. I didn’t know anything about the organization at the time except that it was far from my home (think: a couple miles down the road). Yep, during those days, that was far and inconvenient. But, isn’t everything inconvenient when you’re a teenager? So, guess what?!
I was mad because I was a dramatic teenager and I didn’t have time to volunteer…and that was far away!
But, I managed to get there…*somehow* I found the time and I found my way! When I arrived for my first day, we met with the Director. I was hoping to be assigned to the youngest room with the preschoolers because they were just so darn cute! But, guess what? I wasn’t!
And, I was mad because I was a dramatic teenager and I didn’t have time and that was faraway…and I wanted what I wanted!
But, it didn’t matter what I wanted because they needed help in the middle room where the elementary school children presided. Now, have I explained yet what Ability First is? It’s a beautiful organization that provides services and programs for people of all ages who have physical and developmental disabilities. The work they do is so incredibly valuable and I was about to learn why.
That’s when I met Matt (his name has been changed here).
He wore thick, coke bottle glasses and he was one of the most gregarious little boys that I’ve ever met. He walked right up to me, introduced himself, and toured me around the room by gently holding my hand. To get me involved and to meet the other kids, he sat me at a table where many of the other children where sitting and playing together.
And, that’s when one of the boys drooled on the table just as I sat down.
The drool puddle landed very near to my hand which Matt had so carefully placed. Matt slid his long sleeve shirt over his hand and whipped the drool away as he said, “Don’t worry. It’s only a little bit of drool.” I wondered if other volunteers had reacted when this happened before? Had I reacted inadvertently? Was he trying to save face for his buddy? It didn’t really matter because in that moment…
Matt wasn’t mad because he wasn’t a dramatic teenager like me.
He was able to calmly react without being upset or without even thinking. He quickly took care of his friend and moved on. It a big lesson I was to learn there at Ability First: Strive to be a better person. I can’t tell you the amount of stares that these kids receive. The laughs as they walked by because the way they walked and they talked differently than other kids. But, despite all of that abuse, that negatively, there was little Matt who was putting others before himself. Here was an eight-year old who was dealing with much more difficult life circumstances than myself, and he was adapting, he was thriving, and he was not complaining about it.
Then Matt did something that pushed me over the edge. He grabbed the bracelet around his wrist, a glow in the dark soccer bracelet, and gave it to me. He explained how special it was to him and that he wanted me to have it. And, I was overwhelmed by his kindness again! I hope that there are many people running around in this world like Matt. I quickly put it around my wrist and it stayed there.
I slept with it on, I wore it to school, and I got teased for it.
So many of my friends didn’t understand why I was wearing this (ugly) glow in the dark soccer bracelet. Okay, I know, it wasn’t fashion forward, but it was given to me by a child that I loved! And, I realized from that bracelet had changed me. I realized that I didn’t want to surround myself with people who didn’t understand my love for Ability First. Thanks to Matt, I learned to be a better person and to stand up for what I believe in even when it wasn’t fashionable or cool.
And, do you want to know the best part??
I was bragging about my bracelet during one of my classes and a new friend of mine turned around. He said, “Hey, you’re talking about my little brother! He told me about you!” Small world, right? In fact, they had just moved to our city, so the impact that both Matt and I had on one another will never be known. But, there is this…
- I will always teach my children to value all types of people
- I will always look kindly on people who act or look a little different than me
- I will always value connections with people over things
- I will always try to stop complaining because life could be much, much harder
- I will always try to be a better person
And, as for the bracelet? Sadly, I don’t know where it is anymore. But, the memory of that interaction will always stay with me as a quiet reminder to stop being a dramatic teenager and to be a better person, like Matt.
Your Turn!
Has anyone or any experience made you want to be a better person?
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Anni says
Awesome! I found your blog when I read about the edible rainbow sensory box you did. The title of this post intrigued me, as I have a recently turned teenager. She has a younger sister who has cerebral palsy and seizures, so this post really went to my heart. Your changes warmed my heart. Thank you for writing!
Anni says
Oh, I meant to add – have you heard about the Miss Amazing pageant? http://www.missamazingpageant.com Our younger daughter is entered, and our older daughter is spending the day volunteering to work with some of the special girls in the pageant.
I hope there are more people like Matt in this world, too.