Story 1:

My dad was our school janitor. Students treated me horribly, but one girl in my class saved me with her kindness. That year, she left. I didn’t hear from her. 12 years later, I became a lawyer and saw her name booked for a visit. When she came in, I froze in total shock. She started to cry when she saw me. She had become a completely different person: pale, very frail, and fragile.

She told me she needed a good lawyer and had found out I worked at a law firm. She had only $300 left but desperately needed help-her powerful husband had taken her two children. Life with him had been unbearable, but losing her kids was worse.

I reassured her and promised to convince my boss to take her case pro bono. We worked tirelessly, and she won sole custody.

Months later, we still kept in touch. One day, I told her that her kindness to me in school-when others mocked me-kept my faith in people alive. Helping her was my chance to return that kindness, and I will always be grateful for it.