Everyone has met one of those people- you know the ones I’m talking about. They’re the ones who stand out the most. They may not stand out because they are outstanding. They may not be able to hurl a sixteen pound bowling ball fifty feet or spell disestablishmentarianism backwards, let alone forwards. They may be a simple personality that you only get to experience for just a fraction of a second- but somehow, by the grace of God, we remember them.
One may call them a role model. I prefer to call them an example because a role is for acting and a model is supposed to be flawless. I don’t want to be flawless. And I don’t want to act like something I’m not- so an example is what I shall call these people.
I met my “example” on the first day, in the first class of my junior year in high school. I didn’t like him, his personality, his voice, his music, or his sense of humor. I wrote him off immediately. It took about a week for me to get over my first impression. Shortly thereafter, I realized that he was put into my life to help me grow up.
Any adult who knows me, or has spoken to me for just a moment, is well aware of how grown up and mature I am. But this is not the growing that I needed. No, I grew much too fast in that department at a very young age. I needed to overcome some of the walls that had built in my life before I met him. I needed to grow stronger, but before I could do this, I had to be broken.
I had to break myself to make me weaker. Why fix what isn’t already broken? You see, I was broken- more than I had allowed anyone to know. I had to chip away the tough façade. I had to destroy everything I thought I knew about myself, so that I could move on from all the hurt I was carrying around in my heart.
He didn’t mean to help me- he probably never wanted to help me. But the important thing is that he subconsciously guided me by grabbing my interests in certain areas that eventually led to self discovery. He helped me with encouraging words concerning all matters. He treated me like an adult- the adult I had been for a while that no one had bothered to notice. He coaxed out my personality. I won’t give him all the credit. He was simply a free lance guidance counselor and a shrink on occasion. But those random acts of kindness are what helped me realize my value.
To all those who live to be an example- remember that you aren’t living for only you. The smallest things are sometimes what mean the most. You may never be called a hero out loud, but know that you are a hero in someone’s heart. Remember that those you guide are your responsibility and look after them. Know that you will never fail in their eyes- you are flawless in their hearts.
Thank you for always listening from behind my walls,
Jessica D. Hunt
One may call them a role model. I prefer to call them an example because a role is for acting and a model is supposed to be flawless. I don’t want to be flawless. And I don’t want to act like something I’m not- so an example is what I shall call these people.
I met my “example” on the first day, in the first class of my junior year in high school. I didn’t like him, his personality, his voice, his music, or his sense of humor. I wrote him off immediately. It took about a week for me to get over my first impression. Shortly thereafter, I realized that he was put into my life to help me grow up.
Any adult who knows me, or has spoken to me for just a moment, is well aware of how grown up and mature I am. But this is not the growing that I needed. No, I grew much too fast in that department at a very young age. I needed to overcome some of the walls that had built in my life before I met him. I needed to grow stronger, but before I could do this, I had to be broken.
I had to break myself to make me weaker. Why fix what isn’t already broken? You see, I was broken- more than I had allowed anyone to know. I had to chip away the tough façade. I had to destroy everything I thought I knew about myself, so that I could move on from all the hurt I was carrying around in my heart.
He didn’t mean to help me- he probably never wanted to help me. But the important thing is that he subconsciously guided me by grabbing my interests in certain areas that eventually led to self discovery. He helped me with encouraging words concerning all matters. He treated me like an adult- the adult I had been for a while that no one had bothered to notice. He coaxed out my personality. I won’t give him all the credit. He was simply a free lance guidance counselor and a shrink on occasion. But those random acts of kindness are what helped me realize my value.
To all those who live to be an example- remember that you aren’t living for only you. The smallest things are sometimes what mean the most. You may never be called a hero out loud, but know that you are a hero in someone’s heart. Remember that those you guide are your responsibility and look after them. Know that you will never fail in their eyes- you are flawless in their hearts.
Thank you for always listening from behind my walls,
Jessica D. Hunt
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