Mark Twain once said:
”Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

Nowhere is this more accurate than in school. A lot of teens consider school a dark and cruel place completely lacking in happiness or kindness. Personally, I think it’s what you make it. Some people choose the wrong group of people and get into trouble; others take the right path and make school an enjoyable place for themselves and others. I value that second group of people, and I am proud to say that I am one of those students.

I switched schools when I was in 8th grade. I was only fourteen years old, and I wasn’t happy about switching schools. My new school was tiny and I didn’t know a single person. I felt like I was an outcast and people didn’t really like me because it was a charter school and everyone knew everyone there since kindergarten. During my first semester I was just focused on school work and didn’t really have any friends besides one girl. When I got to second semester things changed.

In second semester, I was a Teacher’s Assistant for a second grade class. One day, I had more work than usual (and it took me a little longer to finish). The class ended up leaving without me for recess. Once I was done, I decided to go outside for the remaining ten or fifteen minutes, and when I was walking out of the class I saw a teacher with 4 students around her.

There was a girl who was ten years old in a wheelchair, a younger boy who could barely walk, and two twin girls. I watched them go outside and I couldn’t resist following them and asking them if they’d like to play. They seemed to be lonely and it broke my heart. I learned from their teacher that the twins are deaf, the younger boy is mute and had trouble walking, and the girl in a wheelchair is paralyzed.

I continued playing with all four of them outside, reading them books, siting in circles and giving each other compliments, singing songs, and talking about how we were always going to be friends forever. I spent as much time as possible with these kids, and they became my closest friends. During the summer, we messaged each other on social media and hung out at each other’s houses.

It has been over 2 years since I first met my friends, but to this day we are still as close as ever. The day I met them was the best school day ever. I know that they are as happy that they met me as much as I am to have met them.

Mark Twain is completely right about kindness being a language anyone can hear and see. Sometimes, you just have to try a little bit harder for some people.