I was privileged recently to witness my daughter's graduation. Many wonderful team and group accomplishments were highlighted during the ceremony. However, one group of students never received recognition: young men and women who volunteered as peer tutors.
I grew up excelling in sports and lettered all four years at BYU. I dreamed of coaching my kids, seeing them excel and possibly playing professionally. Then God showed me what was truly important in life. I was blessed with a daughter born with mental disabilities. As my little girl grew, I learned what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called "life's most important question." That is, "What are you doing for others?" Over the last 18 years, I had to rely on the outstanding special needs administrators and teachers who taught my daughter.
I also witnessed groups of young men and women who chose to use their elective classes to help fellow students with severe handicaps. I saw individuals with courage who stood up for my daughter when others with weak character tried to tease her in the hall. I saw large groups of students who sacrificed their prom night to accompany the special needs students to dinner and the dance. My heart would swell when I saw individuals go out of their way to approach my daughter with a big hug to brighten her day. There are two young women who come over once a week to play games with my daughter.
Peer tutors, you are the true heroes.
DeeJay Smith
Draper