Describe one incident in about 200 words from childhood that had a positive effect on a child's personality
Answers
I had a friend when I was growing up named Cole, the stepson of my next door neighbor, we were both the same age. He and I got along amazingly, we'd play outside together, ride bikes, and he was the only friend I ever had outside computer land that enjoyed playing videogames like I did.
When we turned 6 though, things started to change: Cole started losing a lot of weight, and began to grow weak. I didn't really understand what was going on, but we continued to play and have a fun time nonetheless. We stopped playing outside and so mostly spent our time inside his house playing Mario Kart and eating those awesome Planters HOT Peanuts or his sister's candied dehydrated fruit. I don't know why that sticks in my head so much, but it does.
By the time we turned 7, Cole could no longer walk. He was relegated to a wheelchair, but I have fond memories of pushing him up his driveway to let him coast down. I started to feel odd though, I was afraid of inviting myself over to his house, and I didn't want to intrude on him being sick.
One day, his dad, a veteran cop of the Portland PD pulled me aside when I came to his house, and I explained how I felt about it-- I was afraid Cole wouldn't want me there because he was so sick. He told me never to think that way, that what I was giving him was the best thing anyone could do for him: To look at the reverse of the situation, how I would feel were I in his position. I was his friend, and the fact I still wanted to play with him meant more than I could know.
It was the first time I really understood what empathy was, even if I didn't know the word. I look back and I have such pride for the morals I had as a little kid. I didn't judge, I just did what came naturally and felt was right. I try to model myself after that little kid who had a chance to affect someone's life positively.
Cole died shortly after. His life may have been short, but the lesson learned changed my life and how I saw the treatment of other people. Every day I try to live up to it.