The day you touched me

In 2007 I was a paraprofessional for a charter school located in Detroit, MI. This was my first experience in a elementary setting outside of student teaching. I was placed in a kindergarten classroom with an amazing teacher. She was new, but had a lot of experience. In this class their was a little girl, who was passionate about everything that she did. I had never met anyone at that age that care so much and strive to do her best. Usually kids are excited only by things that interest them, not about everything. One day I asked her "why do you love school so much?" She said, I don't have much time. I had no clue what she meant, but I left her be. I asked the teacher I was working with if she new what the little girl meant, and she started to cry. She told me that the little girl has cancer and she is in and out of the hospital. At that moment I was speechless. I understand her passion, but it also made me think about my on life and the things that I often take for granted. Life is too short and each day I try to make a difference. This little girl was 5 and lived her life to the fullest. I'm grateful for the things that I have and the people that are in my life. I continue to view things as being possible, although I do become frustrated. I think about the little girl often and I sometimes bring myself to realized that things could be worst.