One Drop of Rain

I maybe one drop in an ocean full of people but even a small drop 

can make a drip sound or a ripple, albeit small.

When I was in my first year of university, I met a man named George and we were in the same class. Since I was always present and him, being absent most of the time, our connection was with the constant borrowing of notes and reminders from teachers (I was the vice president of the class, meaning, the bearer of news.)

It was almost the end of the school year when I asked George why the tardiness or absences.  He mentioned that times were tough and that he cannot afford to come to school everyday.  He even had no money to fully pay his tuition fee in school.  He needed to fulfill his obligation for his family so he also worked after school.

His dilemma at that time was the coming examinations as it was already the end of our first year.  He wasn't able to attend my study group where we sat down to review lessons from our Philosophy class.

He was out most of the time in class thus he doesn't know most of the lessons taught.  The biggest challenge was not just to take the test but also to pay for the remaining balance he should had paid earlier.

He was able to take the test, with my help, though he didn't pass the exams.  Well in our class of 42 students, only three of us passed the Philosophy exam and only nine went on to second year.  The rest left the university after that year, including George.

Though I didn't hear anything after that and he wasn't able to return the tuition I lent him, I learned to be more humble and appreciative. I learned that life is unfair. I learned that my troubles were minuscule to others.  I learned that hard work pays off. I learned that in life, challenges make us grow and strong.