Have you ever been to an event only to find out that you had missed it because the time was wrong?  And to make matters worse, you were the one who messed up.  How did you feel and most importantly, did it affect you as it did me?  Last year I was scheduled to attend the Eighth Grade Award Assembly at a local middle school to hear one of my youth leadership students give her progression speech to the assembly.  I intended to be attendance and provide support to Jackie, a young 14 year-old.  Besides, it was extemely important to hear her speech because I had been her coach during the process as she created her speech   Arriving right at 3:00 PM, I immediately knew something wasn't right.  The school was pretty much deserted, teachers gone, students gone, the hallways definitely quiet.  That's when the school secretary informed me that the awards assembly took place at 11:00 AM and not 3:00 PM that same day. Totally in shock, the tears flooded my eyes; I felt as a failure in letting my student down.

Hoepfully, we learn from our mistakes and this year, was a different story.  This time I made sure I had all the correct information so I could be present at  all the award assemblies (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades).  The unexpected happened again this year.  I successfully made it to the sixth and seventh-grade asemblies, this time as I walked into the gymnasium for the eighth grade assembly, there sat Jackie (the student I had mentored) only she is a freshman.  To my surprise, it was announced that Jackie would be speaking again only this time her topic was to provide information to the eighth graders as to what they can expect when they start high school as a freshman.  Tears once again came to my eyes as I watched Jackie give an outstanding presentation.  The reward was in seeing how she took the coaching I tried to provide her and spoke to a mixed crowd of students and adults.  The size of the auidence was approximately 250-300 and Jackie demonstrated confidence and excellence.  I missed her last year's presentation. but this year she provided an absolutely outstanding performance.  Watching her was the biggest payback of seeing her use the pointers I had tried to teach.

I've always heard that when you volunteer it comes back to you with a much bigger reward.   I couldn't be any prouder or more pleased with Jackie's accomplishments, she was worth every minute I invested in her.