Hampton

You know, life really makes you smile somtimes and tells you that you are blessed. It's a shame that it's taken me eighteen years, twelve in school, to realize that to the fullest. The people along the way that have donated their time, made you smile, and even knocked you down make the impressions that build, shape, and mold you into the person you are. Those are the ones to be appreciated, for without them, you would have been nothing, an knot on a log. Character is built by those people. First to those that have given their time without reward: I have never been one to easily take favors. Time is something that is given up and can never be returned, and that is what makes time donation meaningful. To me, mycoaches, teachers, and parents have been the ones who have contributed the most. Coaches and teachers definitely don't choose their professions so they can retire early and buy a beach-front house in the Florida Keys. They get payed more by a young person's willingness to learn and work hard. I definitely could have payed my coaches and teachers a little more. Parents are the ones that raise you. Their mannerisms and actions are the ones that we tend to immitate and because so will be passed on to our children. Without a doubt, our parents contribute to our past, present, and future more than any other people, and often times they receive the least praise. They get payed by simple "thank you's" and quick hugs every once and a while and really appreciate the kiss bonuses. I definitely could have payed my parents a little more. Next to those that make you smile: The majority of the time my life can be compared to everything good, but as we all know, there always seems to be tiny annoyances that irritate the crap out of you. People highly underestimate the power in a simple smile. You never know how much a plain ol' lip curl means to someone else. It doesn't matter who you are. There is always someone that looks up to you, and at some point in life you will have someone that looks at you a little more than a friend. Flashing a smile to another person means more to them than the lost energy does to you. There is no better way to forget about those dang annoyances in life than to see the bightness in somebody else's day. Smiles cost nothing to those who give them, but often times are worth great ammounts to those who receive them. There is no doubt that I could have payed the average person in my day a little more. Lastly to those who have knocked you down: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your intent doesn't have the same meaning now as it did then. Being broken down has onle made me rebuild more strongly. Those that maliciously attack your nerves and emotions are the ones that in reality are doing you a favor. Sometimes it takes a real slap in the face for someone to notice their flaws and change. This doesn't disregard the old "sticks and stones" saying because sometimes words really do hurt. Sometimes, though being knocked down is a good test of what you're really made of. All I will say about to conclude this paragraph is that I wish I had "payed" some of you a lot more. Life is so sweet, and the people that make it up are the sugar. I will be successful in life; I have no doubt about that. I may not be the president of the United States or the next Bill Gates, but I will be successful to the point that I will make a difference in someone elses life and give them the joy and happiness that you all have given to me. Thank you for making me who I am today.