Contestant

It is not necessarily, that we are searching for nor knowingly, anticipates where or when we will be touched with something, that leaves us with an unforgettable moment in memories.
Traveling through the avenues and pathways of life dishes out many things, some that are "fortunate, some perhaps we will say unfortunate." Either way, each step within the pathways touches us all in some for or another.


A few years ago,I was giving the opportunity to offer tutoring to preteen students.
The students were preparing for an entrance exam for their next transitional level, in their educational studies. One of their assignments was for a city wide writing contest, using their creativity in writing, to capture what their past summers experience of events included. Their creativity leaped to their captive interest from family travel, volunteering, learning new skills, fishing, hanging out at their favorite mall, or just enjoying their neighborhood.


Within the weeks to follow, the judges made their decisions, and the winners were announced. The parents of the winners were notified of the up coming ceremony of events and those to be in attendance including, the city mayor, the state senator, a famous actor/comedians.


When the day of the even arrived, although, it was a raining morning, with a crisp chill in the air more like early winter than fall, the weather was not dampening the winning contestants' spirits. As they arrived at the event, with their parents, and/or family members, they were directed to a press room of sorts. Attempts at mingling, once in the room, were made, to calm the nervous tensions that were finally taking roots. Upon, being seated, the mayor of their city entered. He recognized each student individually, while presented each with their certificate well as the prizes awarded for their achievement. Their prize, included savings bonds, snow-boards, backpacks, to school supplies and so forth.


Next was an additional gathering held for the winning contestant in the school's auditorium. Among those giving speeches  were their State Senator, and a famous comedian/actor all celebrating in the student's achievements, show casing their city! As the speeches were given and the comedian roaring the crowd with laughter. I began to scan the crowd to see a familiar face, from our winning contestant school. As I scanned the auditorium. . . I could not grain a focal point of any familiar face. Again I searched the gathered crowd, zooming in and out to get even closer views, to see at least someone from our school. Because after all, this winning contestant, was the "ONLY" winner from his entire school, surely there had to be support! Again, back to, scanning the crowd, my eyes racing with a more opened shutter speed, zooming in and out closer and closer around the room looking for at least some support, hopefully, perhaps the principal, his assistant.


As I was about to end my zooming around the room one last time, my eyes stopped, there was a lone supporter from this winning contestant school. There standing so humbling in the left corner of the room, without notice, blending into the general crowd, ..there to support. This only winning contestants finally, from his school had a achool supporter! A supporter, that did not allow the early Saturday morning, raw chills of pouring rain, keep them tucked in the comfort of their home. They knew what it meant to show dedication to their Contestant, student (s), never to allow "little" blunders to hold them back, while taking full speed at capturing dreams that are calling.


Among many "heros(s)" I can recall, this support, the dedication, selfless, characters as a human begin. Along, our pathway in life sometimes we are fortunate enough to be touched in an unforgettable way. It is not that we are necessarily looking to be. It just arrives as such. Not so long ago, I learned his teacher, one of my heros and one of this student, lone school supporters, was terminally ill, during all of these events, and since have passed away . . . During all of my tutoring within her classroom, she never whimpered in any way to give noticed of being terminally ill, a Hero in the corner . . . of a Contestant . . !
KT