A/N: This is actually a journal entry I wrote on my computer about something that happened to me. Whenever something happens that really makes me think, I type up what happened on a word document and save it under a folder called "Journal". So a journal entry for me is actually one of these documents.

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January 9, 2007 The Lone Freshman Cleaner

Today I saw something that really struck a note in my heart and resonated there. It amazed me so much. It happened just at the end of lunch. Usually as soon as the bell rings, after any of the lunches, one third of the student population squeezes itself out of the cafeteria as fast as possible. This is especially true for third lunch, which is what I had today. The tables are generally a mess after we eat, despite the teachers’ efforts to make kids throw away their trash.

So today, as I was fighting my way up the ramp to get out of the cafeteria, I looked back at the almost empty lunchroom and saw one freshman girl picking up the trash from a freshman table all by herself.

I was very impressed, and I turned to one of my friends and commented “There’s a freshman picking up all the trash alone. She deserves some help”. Honestly, if I hadn’t been stuck in traffic halfway up the exit ramp, I probably would have helped her.

Unfortunately, all I could do was send her my silent admiration, praise, and respect before I went off to history class.

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As luck would have it, I actually saw the girl at the end of the day. I asked her: “Hey, were you the one picking up trash by yourself today after lunch?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s really awesome. I saw you and told my friend that you deserved a little help, but I couldn’t do anything because I was halfway up the ramp.”

I don’t really remember exactly what I said, but I know I made a joke about vaulting over the railing of the ramp to go help her.

I wish I’d told her that I really admired and respected her for cleaning up after everybody. I don’t know why she decided to pick up all the garbage. Maybe a teacher told her to, maybe she felt sorry for the janitors, maybe she was responsible for the trash on that table, and maybe she just didn’t like leaving a place in such a messy condition. It doesn’t matter though. What matters is that instead of walking away and thinking “People should pick up their trash” or “That table is really messy” she went and did something about it. If everybody was like that, maybe we could pick up the world a little.

So whoever you are, great work today, freshman, the rest of us could stand to learn from your example.

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A/N: I'd really like to get some feedback on this story. Critiques are welcome, as always.

... How about this? Anyone who reviews gets a hug!

LEDlorien7