Here's a copy of the original draft of my recent editorial. Some say it's my best...I still feel partial to "Reality Check". Maybe because that one was more personal. Anyway, enlight of graduation, here's "Leave An Impact":
Do you remember the kid who cried the first day of kindergarten? Or what abut the quiet girl who seemed to never talk all through elementary school? How about the boy who seemed to know all the right answers? Or how the thought of a certain substitute made your stomach turned? That�s because they left an impact on you. Whether you want to remember them or not, you do. In some way, everyone leaves an impact on someone.
There is a myth that you�ll live forever as long as you�re remembered. Life is about making memories and accomplishing something to be remembered by. It is believed that once someone is completely forgotten, only then are they truly dead. If memories of one�s life fade too quickly or do not linger at all, then their life is in vein, and it is inane that they ever existed. In the past, people acted crazily or performed foolishly just to be remembered. They failed to realize something, though: by trying to be remembered, they likely would be remembered as a �show off� or �attention seeker�. They might even be considered an �idiot� for their actions. That�s likely not the way they hoped to be remembered.
Perhaps it can be said that teachers leave the biggest impact on a student�s life; and truly, that may be the case. You may remember the way a teacher taught or their �homemade� tests; however, if you think deeper, there�s more you will be able to recall. Think of the time when you were sick and you felt no one noticed or no one knew you were gone. When you returned to school, you were delighted to find that your teacher had noticed and worried. Yes, they want you to succeed in school, but do you think they only notice you were gone because they had an extra copy of the test? No. They do notice and they do care. They really do want YOU to succeed. Long hours go into their job and lots of planning, too. Hopefully, it left an impact on you in the way in which they seem to care, and the way they don�t let their outside cares show through. They have bad days like the rest of us; they have troubles, too. Do you think they instantly just drop their problems once they see their classroom door? No, the problems are still there, but they push them aside in order to educate you. Let that be your memory. Don�t think of how they didn�t let you get away with talking disrespectfully, but rather think of how they would put their own cares and anxieties away, just to do what was expected of them. Use that to set your own goals.
Do others just see you as lazy? Will they remember the good deeds you�ve done? Let�s use a story of a boy named Josh as an example. Josh is your typical �geek�. He spends hours studying and working on his computer. He doesn�t have real friends, but he gets a long with everybody. One day, he�s in a hurry after school, and as he rushes down the hall, with his arms full of books, he trips on the trash Travis didn�t throw away. He loses his footing and starts to fall. As his books go flying, and his papers scatter down the hall, the students walking closest to him laugh (perhaps they don�t want others to know they have done the same and feel his pain). Another student kicks a book because he�s just �cool� in that way. A few others rush by and step on his papers, tearing them and covering them with dirt. Then a boy purposely runs into Josh and yells at him for being in the way. Just when Josh is getting frustrated and he wants to run away, a girl he does not know comes and stands looking his way. Amy knows if she stays and helps, she�ll likely miss her bus. She doesn�t let that stop her though, as she reaches down and picks up a book. She offers Josh a helping hand and quickly gathers his things. A few other students offer to help, but would they have if Amy hadn�t have paved the way?
Years pass, and Josh now has a daughter. While picking her up from school one day, reflections fill his head. He remembers the dreaded day he dropped his books and how people laughed at him. The memory is faded now, and the embarrassment has disappeared, but one vision still remains intact. He remembers Amy, the girl he never really knew, who missed her bus to help him. Her kindness left an impact on him.
The next time you see someone like Josh, ask yourself what kind of impact you will leave. Will you be like Amy? Will you even say �bless you� when a stranger sneezes? If not, you may not realize you�re missing your shot. You leave impacts on peoples' lives everyday, but are they positive? Let�s hope for all of our sakes that you will leave positive memories. Be a clear vision. Be a good memory. Make a mental note to notice what type of impact you leave. Be like Amy or like your teacher. Care for others and let your compassion show through. Leave a good impact. Otherwise, how will others remember you?
I'm out for now...you'll hear from me again soon. After all, high school is over for me. I'll definitely be writing a lot this summer. Don't forget to look forward to my