I always felt guilty that all I would do is take. Want, want, want that’s all I thought about as a child I didn’t realize that since others are kind to me, I should be kind to others and pay it forward. I finally realized this one day during the tennis season for a match.

It dawned on me that there was going to be a match today at Breck, our opposing school for tennis. Shoot, I don’t have anyone to take me there I thought, mom is at ballet with my sister and dad is at work. Panicking, I texted Will Mairs, a senior that could drive me to the match. Immediately he texted back “Sure I can take you to our match.” Within 5 minutes, he was at my house, and I happily got in his car. It was quiet and awkward, but to me the car ride felt warm and welcoming

The moment I got out of the car I knew that I had to spread these acts of benevolence. The match went marvelously well and I finished my match within an hour. I cheered for the rest of the team as loud as my voice could go and we mopped the floor with Breck with 6-1 for the score. After the match I stayed extra-long to help put away the score cards and pick up the balls. I made a habit of cleaning up the courts after all the matches to show my way of giving kindness. Since I can’t drive or string racquets for everyone, I found my own way to spread kindness and create a ripple that I knew would last long after I made the action.

From then on out I promised to continue assisting others. Once I got a car and was able to drive, I knew that I had to show the same spirit in welcoming the new teammates that Will had done for me. I finally learned that instead of only receiving generosity, I could give too and act as a role model to others. Ever since then I’ve never felt guilty, and I haven’t looked back since I started to give instead of take.