An Excellent Read
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I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
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After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
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By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
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There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
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'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.
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She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.
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'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
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'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
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'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.
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I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
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'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.
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For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
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As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'
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We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
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Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
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I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
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'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
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'Nothing,' I said
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'You have to make a living,' she answered.
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'There are other passengers,' I responded.
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Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
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'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.
'Thank you.'
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I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
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I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
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On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
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We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
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But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
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PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
GUIDELINES & CATEGORIES
Community : How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
Opportunity : How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
Energy : How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
Environment : How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
Health : How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
Education : How can we help more people get more access to better education?
Shelter : How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
Everything else : Sometimes the best ideas don't fit into any category at all.
CRITERIA :
REACH : How many people would this idea affect?
DEPTH : How deeply are people impacted? How urgent is the need?
ATTAINABILITY : Can this idea be implemented within a year or two?
EFFICIENCY : How simple and cost-effective is your idea?
longevity : How long will the idea's impact last?
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10. What one sentence best describes your ideas? (150 character)
The youth of today is the future for tomorrow, an ideas without boundaries, a centre a Universe-City.
Universe-City of youth a centre for youth today and our future
11. Describe your idea in more depth (300 words)
UCOY is an extention of the already diverse education system world wide with the community of students from all over the world staying together representing each an every country of the world within countries of the United Nation. It is a mobile centre attached to respective universities where it is attached to for a specific duration.
The world today need each an every one to learn HOW to tolerate each other, with the differences of culture, religion, language. Learning to accept that there is reason for such diversity. Brought up in a different environment with different set of rules, believes and guidelines.
UCOY replaces the normal period of study (A Levels, Matriculation or related program) for two years in major cities of East & West (Asia, Europe, Americas), with the age level of 18 and 19 years. They will be offered a UCOY diploma which will be accepted into any other Universities of the world.
On completion,
12. What problem or issue does your idea address (150 words)
Acceptance, respect of each other, ability to agree to disagree, on top of being innovative and creative.
13. If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (150 words)
Everyone who believes that this world is to share and work together, the youth of today the future generation.
14.What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (150 words)
A committee will be st up, to deliberate on the best implementation process. Interested youth will then apply through a centre with an essay as to why they should be chosen, and there will be a set of interviews to short list the candidates.
15. Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (150 words)
Graduates of UCOY will be a world citizen who learn to respect themselves and others, Unity in Diversity. They might look different, sounds different live in different areas but will be the catalyst for a new open system of acceptance.
