FIRST PLACE

situation as I was last year, in an even worse one. I decided to help him.

I had to come every morning to the kindergarten class before my class started. The first time I talked to him, he looked timid. I started talking to Anthony and playing with him, and after a while, we both got used to each other. It was noticeable that he was interested in me, and now and then, I saw a little smile on his face. I will never forget it. Later that month I got a reward for courage. That's not all! Over time, I grew closer to Anthony, and we both became close friends. Every morning I came into the room, he looked at me with a bright smile. Sometimes he was so happy he shouted out my name. There was no day I didn’t think about him. Over time I started acting generally around him, just like with any other kid. When he was out of school, I missed him, and it reminded me of how much I loved him. During the school year, he received multiple surgeries, and after each one, I saw how much he needed my support. Throughout the school year, I taught him English and saw many changes. Every morning I saw him playing with other kids, talking to them. His life changed.

A year passed, and it was time for me to graduate. I left middle school with a good feeling, with a feeling I did something important. But at the same time, it was hard for me to leave Anthony. Throughout this story, I learned a life lesson. Even though Anthony looked di erently on the outside, on the inside he had a good little heart. My thoughts from the beginning changed about him. People judge others by appearance, but it's wrong to do that. Who knows what a person might be hiding inside? Never judge a book by its cover.