Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I've have started driving again, just small journeys until I gain my confidence. Tonight I dropped my daughter off to a volunteering organization. I drove along a road near my home, this new road and infrastructure was created about 12 years ago. As I drove along it tonight I remembered Kelly.

Kelly was a student when this new road was constructed. Her mother passed away when Kelly was very young. She and her brother were raised by her father and by her own admission, she was a wild child, climbing out windows, staying out drinking etc. She started to settle in college and moved in with a boyfriend. The year after I taught her, a dreadful thing happened.

It was actually about this time of year and Kelly's dad was about to turn on to the new road. It was a very busy road and was designed so that the user could not automatically turn right because it was so busy. Drivers had to turn left, turn at a roundabout further up the road and then come back down the road. Kelly's father was not familiar with the road. He was driving in the early hours of the morning and he met with a fatal accident. The lecturers sent her a condolence card. At that stage I didn't teach Kelly but had previously taught on her new programme. I wrote that I would help her with one of the 6 modules she still had to complete on her second and final year of her programme. I knew it would be difficult for Kelly to gain an element of normality but I intended to help her any way I could.

At that time I had just left my marriage about 6 months beforehand and I was living in rented accommodation near where Kelly lived. Things were tough for me but I committed to help Kelly.

I broke my code of conduct but Kelly needed love and  support and there weren't too many,  if any,  who were placed to offer her this.  I  brought Kelly to my home where I tutored and supported her through the full module. I prepared all the notes. I didn't do the assignments but I was still there supporting her.  I  got her to complete all the assignments at my home so that she would stay focused.   Kelly got a Distinction in the unit I taught her, this helped raise her overall grades. My support also helped her focus on her studies at such a terribly sad time in her life . Kelly's lecturer was so impressed with her assignments that she got Kelly to explain the higher level parts of the assignments to the rest of the class! This was so good for her self esteem. Kelly completed her course, I was so glad she didn't drop out, life had dealt this girl a tough hand of cards.

A few years ago I met Kelly in the town centre. She was pushing a pram, her newly born son sleeping contentedly. I was glad to see life had brought a new family member into Kelly's life for her to love. It's the least she deserved.