Impact

While I am at school, I keep myself busy with both my studies and my work, my  job being that of working at an afterschool program in the neighboring community. The school I work at is for third through fifth graders, and I greatly enjoy working there. Having gone to an afterschool program myself when I was younger, I know how important this job is, and how much of an impact that the staff have on the children. I remember looking up to all of my afterschool program staff, thinking that they were great, and hoping to one day be like them. I guess that I have made it to that point, as the kids at the afterschool program let me know the impact that I have on them. One in particular, who I occasionally interact with, but he is normally only there two of the days I work, and tends to leave earlier than most, has shown me that I have impacted him. It came in the form of a simple, unprompted message,

"Zach, I wish that you were my older brother."

This has stuck with me ever since, as I was very touched by the sentiment. It really showed me that though my time with someone may be brief, it also can be very meaningful. You might reach people in ways you never know, until somewhere down the line they let you know just how important your actions were. That is something I hope I can continue to do.