There are a lot of things in my life that I would change in a heartbeat. Let’s go back to the day when I stood idly by and watched as bad things happened. It all began when I hit 6th grade; everything changed. I went from 5th grade ‘goody’ to 6th grade meanie. I didn’t listen to what others had to say, I tuned them out.

I always put myself first and cut others in line. Then, there was a day when I had a chance to change all that, and help others. However, I did not. There was a girl getting bullied, I was a grade above her. She was in 6th and I was in 7th grade.

  I thought it was funny and the cool thing to do. I laughed as I watched sad tears dribble from her face to her shirt. As a lot of middle school kids teased her, she wiped her tears on her sleeve. Her clothing wasn’t very trendy. She had old sneakers and ragged hair. I felt really bad that day, knowing that I could’ve stopped the incident from happening. I should’ve intervened, and changed the situation.

Since then, I feel like I’ve changed a lot and for the better. During my freshman year, I helped someone pull their life together. There was a girl in my cooking class that looked disoriented and out of place. She looked sad, and so did her hair. She couldn’t not afford a hair straightener. She was always nice to others. She was quiet and reserved. I felt bad, so I decided to give her my flat iron. I smiled all day that day. I had a warm feeling in my chest. After that day, we talked for weeks. I got her involved in school clubs. I enjoy and take no shame in lending a hand. I know, I will never stand idly by, again.-