INFECTIOUS KINDNESS

Rosio Wells shares the relationship she made with her teacher Mr. Ohaire and how his kindness impacted her.

Wooden desks and fresh math worksheets were scattered around the room. In the back of the classroom sits Mr. O’Haire. After a bumpy day on the roller coaster of life, she turned to someone who exudes kindness. A day in spring, warm enough to be the dead of summer, during her sixth period in junior year, everything changed. She walked into the refreshing classroom, wearing shorts and a classic tee. The AC was blasting to make up for the boiling temperature of the pavement that preceded the classroom. On this day Rosio learned, “that there are people out there who are nice and who care.” A listening ear from an outside perspective can change everything. The serene personality of her math teacher allowed her to open up to someone outside of her family and realize that life can be simpler. Their deep conversations gave her hope in a time where the endpoint of senior year seemed hard to reach. Her harder days made it difficult to find hope, but Mr. O’Haire reminded her to find positivity in the midst of problems. With the help of people who care she grew to be somebody she could be proud of. On the other side of these four years, Rosio reflects on how a caring person can not only change a life, but save one.