There are many factors that in a lifetime help to determine who you are. Yet for me there is that one circumstance which influenced my being and ultimately changed my life forever. I've had many experiences in all my years that have helped to make me the person that I am today, but none has done so more than when I began working with individuals with disabilities. One can never fully appreciate all they have until they immerse themselves in helping those who can't help themselves. Giving friendship and compassion to those who yearned for attention gave me a sense of pride and them a sense of self-worth. Many of these individuals had either been abandoned or had no family at all and I became their only source of companionship.
The sound of a six year old girl with Down Syndrome proclaiming her admiration for me still rings sweet in my ear. I was told she was rarely verbal and had
difficulty expressing emotion. Knowing her aptitude towards oral restraint made the impact of her words that much more forceful. It is this moment in which I realized what a difference one person could make. Just knowing that I had impacted this young girl's life changed me forever. Within that one moment I have received a lifetime of understanding. Even though this young girl was born with disabilities, she seemed to understand more than I did how important human kindness is.
has also become an ever-present aspect of my life. Seeing the world through the eyes of those who have a different take on living has helped me to realize how lucky I am to have people who have supported me in all I do. This exposure has helped me to prioritize the importance of taking time out to give of myself to others. I owe my passion for life to the six year old girl who so greatly affected my heart. It is due to her that I am so pers
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