I messed up my life pretty badly at the start of grade twelve. There was a point when I felt like I had nothing to work for anymore, until I saw how much one of my teachers still believed in me. Her kindness was life-changing, and it motivated me to go on and do everything I did that year. I kept up straight-nineties while participating in dozens of extracurriculars, and ended up winning something like seven awards. Seven awards that I never showed up to accept. I also didn’t go to graduation, and never collected my diploma. None of those meant anything to me because I knew I had already gotten the most valuable thing anyone could ever take away from high school, and all it took was one teacher. The opportunities she gave me that year made me a better student, but most importantly, she taught me to be a better person.
**********
I spent this past work term at the Ministry of Transportation in Saint Catharines. Throughout the term, a lot happened in my life outside of work. Everyday was harder than the last, until I started talking to my boss. I have amazing friends, but none that I have ever been able to talk to as easily as I can to her. She never turned me away, always knew what to say, and supported me in every way I needed. Outside of managing me as her co-op student, she contributed to my well-being and development as a person. That, in my opinion, is rare and truly respectable. I hope that someday, I can be as incredible to someone as she was to me.
Leave a Reply