As we were on our way home, Melanie and I walked down the Canal Street train station’s staircase like normal teenagers – talking and laughing about whatever that came out of our mouths. When we arrived to the N/Q platforms, we turned our heads to the right and there was no one there, so we assumed the train just left. As we were walking that way, a MTA employee stopped us and said “N and Q train are up on the R platform.” We said our thanks and walked away. As we were walking we saw a father, son and daughter still standing there waiting for the train. We stopped for a second and contemplated rather we should tell them or not.
“Should we?” “Hey, why not!”
Melanie approached and told them the situation and the father said “oh, thank you!” We smiled and walked away and as we were walking, we saw tons of people still waiting for the N/Q to come. The funny thing was they were all standing in front of the signs that say “N and Q trains are stopping on the R line at the upper level”. So as we were walking, we stopped to tell them, “All N/Q trains are up on the R line!” There were two boys that said, “Oh Shoot! No wonder why we were waiting for so long!”
Of course we got our ‘thank you’s and such, but what felt so good was that we helped others out because we wanted to. It felt good to know that they didn’t have to waste so much of their time waiting for a train that would never come because we helped them out.
So do you remember the times when people would always get up to let the grannies, grandpas, the incoming mothers, and the mothers with child to sit? I’m not saying it still doesn’t happen – I’m just saying it’s hard to come by now. Now I’m asking you, do you volunteer to give up your seat to help the ones that need it the most?
If we were all a little less selfish and volunteered to help out people, then I think the community would be a much better place, wouldn’t it?
And on the side note, CYI’S Chinatown Beautification Day is coming up this Sunday on August 1-2! Come and join us to let the Chinese Community that the youth have a voice to change the community!
1 comment:
It is my policy to be nice to strangers. We create the world in which we live, if we treat it nicer we have a nicer world. I am not naive to think that there are not evil, nasty people out there, but a lot of people are turned warm or cold by the interactions they have during the day - we can warm up the world a little with a little friendliness, a smile, or a kind act. Sounds like you did just that.
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