Quori H., Centerville High School
The One to Step Up and Stand Out
My dad left me seven years ago. I was sitting on my mom's bed with my backpack all packed. I looked out the window, waiting for my dad's car. He was supposed to pick me up that day. Every time a car would come into our apartment driveway, I would ask "Is that my dad?” Minutes turned into hours, and I kept waiting. Finally, my mom said, “I don't think he's coming.” I didn't understand why someone could be there for other people but not me. I only knew what it felt like to wait for someone to come. This feeling would later teach me how to be there for someone else.
Years later, I moved to Centerville in the middle of the school year. I was the girl walking into a classroom where everyone already had friends. I was nervous; I could have easily stayed by myself. Then I saw this girl sitting alone; she had been at the school longer than I had. She didn't talk much, but something about her face made me think she was carrying something I couldn't see.
For a moment, I thought about staying where I was. What if she didn't want to talk? What if I made it awkward? Then I remembered that little girl looking through that window and waiting. I knew what it felt like to wonder why no one was there for me. So I did it. I walked over. I started talking to her. It was an action, but it changed more than I expected. We eventually became friends; she became someone I could laugh with, make memories with, and rely on, and we became best friends. By stepping out of my comfort zone for someone, I also became more confident.
That experience taught me that being good is not always about doing something. Sometimes it means paying attention; doing good to me is simply making someone feel seen. I couldn't control who showed up for me when I was seven, but I could control who I became after that. Now my advice for living a happy life is to notice people. Show up and do good even when you are nervous. Be ready to start a conversation, include someone who feels left out, and let tough experiences teach you empathy. Then enjoy the people you meet. Laugh, make memories, and let yourself enjoy the connections you helped create.
At seven, I was waiting for someone to show up for me. Years later, I became the person who showed up for someone. Making someone feel good is what having fun means to me. Sometimes helping someone else feel less alone is how you find out you're not alone either.
