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Dillon Schmidt

Professor Davis

Comp. II

30 January 2019

A Positive Change Through a Positive Person

Imagine being a person in need of money to buy food because your parents do not feed

you or a person in need of clothes because you can not afford them. Does the thought make you

realize the little actions you can do to make a positive difference in someone’s life? I am just like

any average person and I found a way to make the biggest difference in the life of now a good

friend of mine. This friend of mine was not fortunate enough for the clothes, food, and money

that most people enjoy. The ways I made a difference are by treating any individual as if he or

she were my neighbor, do for others as if I would want someone to do for me, and I forgot the

social status. To make a difference does not mean I have to do extravagant actions. It is

sometimes the smallest actions that make the biggest difference.

The first step in making a difference is me realizing I need to treat everyone as if they

were my neighbor. When treating someone as if they were my neighbor, it allowed for a better

relationship. Being neighborly basically means be friendly so because of that I get to know more

people on a personal level. As stated in the writing “On Being Neighborly,” “It’s within our

power to become good neighbors, to care for the people around us, and to be cared for by the

people around us” (Brotherton). I had the power to make a difference. I got to know the boy

better by being a neighbor to him. I introduced myself and let him know that if he needs

anything, I am there for him like a neighbor would be.


Second, I did for others as if I would want someone to do for me. I did this because once

I started applying this to my way of life, I then realized all the good deeds that will eventually

come back my way from being a good person to others. I did for the boy as if I would want

someone to do for me. There were instances where it was a cold season and he did not have a

coat or any warm clothes so I went out of my way to find and provide him with clothes because I

would hope someone would do the same for me. There were times where a group of kids went to

the store and bought food and he was around, but did not have money to purchase food with the

others so I went out of my way to buy him some food. All these examples are nothing huge, but

it’s the small actions that make the biggest difference sometimes.

Lastly, I forgot the social status. The boy who I was helping and became friends with was

not popular at all. Most people do not even associate with the noticeably less fortunate kids.

Everyone is afraid of how people will look at them if they are seen around someone that does not

fit into their social group. I believe that is a characteristic in today’s society that needs to be

turned around. I became friends with him because of the difference I was making in his life. I

followed my heart and did what I believed was right. There is no better feeling than seeing the

joy and appreciation of someone who I am helping better their life when they know they can not

do it on their own.

In conclusion, I found ways in which I could better myself. I could make a positive

change in people’s lives. It does not take much it just takes a good heart and effort. I believe

everyone should try to apply these practices. Introduce yourself, get to know the person, go out

of your way, and forget the social status. I understood from the writing “On Being Neighborly,”

the positive actions you do cause a series of improvements that you may not notice (Brotherton).
Like I said, it does not have to be huge noticeable actions or deeds. The smallest actions can

cause change in the biggest ways.


Work Cited

Brotherton, Marcus. “Being a Good Neighbor.” The Art of Manliness, 23 May 2013,

www.artofmanliness.com Accessed 28 January 2019

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