“Act as if what you do makes a difference.” - William James
Today’s lifestyle has preoccupied people with commitments, goals, desires and ambition, which has left no place for welfare to others. People have become selfish to such an extent that they have completely forgotten the ideals and values which have been taught to them since childhood.
The incident which I am writing happened five years back when I was in school. A team of seven, including me, was going for an inter-school debate competition. Due to car break down in the middle of our journey, we were forced to cover the remaining journey by local bus. All of us got jittery, as traveling through bus is no jaunty journey. After pushing and being pushed, we settled in the back seat of the bus. The bus was full of people, all crammed up, so much so that there wasn’t space enough to even get down from the bus. Sitting in the last seat I was busy revising my points while my friend was busy searching her bag. With nothing more to do I started looking around at my fellow passengers when I noticed a girl trying to make her way in the bus. The bus was already so congested; she stumbled to get a place to stand. Just then I noticed that the girl was finding it difficult because she was using a crutch. Although the young girl struggled but being strong in her conviction, she managed to hold the books as well as her crutch in the small space she found for herself.
I started feeling uncomfortable, not because she was standing near me but because ‘I’ was sitting. It was shameful to see that none bothered to offer her a seat. “People fight for getting a seat, can’t they give one?”- opined my mind.
I immediately got off my seat and offered it to her. Out of decency, she politely rejected the offer. Seeing her hesitate, I said, “I apologize on their behalf that none helped you, so please feel comfortable and sit.” The girl gave me a vibrant smile and thanked me. But I noticed an unusual silence near me, as people stared at us, some ashamed, and others still unabashed. The girl asked a few questions. I told her about the upcoming debate competition and how hard my team had prepared for it. On reaching her destination, before leaving, she shook hands and wished me luck for the competition. After she left, a positive feeling and confidence ushered in me. We reached our competition venue on time. When my turn came, I easily stated my points and was able to refute others too. At the end of the debate, I was declared the best speaker. Although I knew I had worked very hard for this debate but still I had a lingering thought that maybe it was the blessing of that girl which worked for me. To conclude, I believe that I won because even a small act of service and courtesy spurs a feeling of self-belief, determination and optimism. It is thus rightly said—
“You will rise by lifting others.”
