#UTCats

Intermountain Catholic

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Since school has started I have been thinking about all the wonderful teachers I have had the privilege of knowing throughout my life. Some of those who popped into my head are actual teachers, others are my friends or family members, some are people that I lived with, but the ones that I learned the most from were actually my students.

For two years I taught math and science at The San Miguel School in Rhode Island. It was a challenging but amazing opportunity I had through the Lasallian Volunteer program. In school I gained practical knowledge in the areas of math, science and reading, but from my students I learned life lessons about compassion, patience, determination and acceptance.

I am writing this because it is important that you – the youth – know how important you are in the lives of the adults around you. Just because you are a young person does not mean that your life does not have an impact on those around you. There is no magical switch that flips when you turn 18 that suddenly allows your life to have an impact on others. You are having an impact on those around you right now!

In the book of Micah, 6:8, it states: "You have been told, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God." These words and many others in the Bible tell us that the impact we should be having on other people should be a positive one. Being kind and positive-minded can be hard, especially when you are trying to balance homework, sports practice, friend time and family time.

In those hectic days it seems like it is easier to hustle past that person in the hall who needs your help, or to not do your chores or to avoid doing your homework, but in the long run, is it really worth it? Did you gain something worthwhile from not doing the right thing? Are those choices positively impacting those around you?

With your actions and words you can make someone’s day better or worse, you can help to spread joy or spread sadness, it is your choice. Choose wisely and you’ll be teaching all those around you how to make a positive impact in the world.