I was in third grade when Mr. Z came into my life. He had just
finished his time as a missionary for the LDS church and was working as
an aide in my class at Cascade Elementary in Orem, Utah. I had a
learning disability that no one knew about back them and really
struggled in school, especially in math. I was also the victim of a lot
of bullying. Mr. Z spent hours of one-on-one time with me to help
me learn times tables and get up to speed in other areas as well.
While most of my peers and teachers at that time had me convinced that I
was stupid, lazy, and would probably never amount to much, Mr. Z
helped me believe in myself and have the confidence I needed to
succeed. He always made me feel like I was the most important person in
the world with the ability to accomplish anything I put my mind to.
Over
the next few years, even though he no longer worked at Cascade, he
continued to keep in touch with my teachers to see how I was doing and
write me fun personal letters of encouragement. He gave my parents and
teachers insight into my struggles that allowed me to find the
individualized help I needed to eventually succeed in high school and
college several years later, as well as set the goal of one day
attending medical school.
Without the help Mr. Z gave me
all those years ago, I don't think there is any way I could have
performed well enough academically to get where I am today. I will
forever be in debt to Mr. Z for the love he showed me that has played
such a big part of what I have been able to accomplish throughout the
course of my life.
I am so grateful not only for
the way
he helped me back when I was a child, but that God allowed me to
miraculously get back in touch with Mr. Z during the last part of his
life after he had helped me come so far. I'm grateful for the small
amount of time I was able to spend with him over the last year or so,
that I was able to at least tell him "thank you" for all of his help
all those years ago and let him see what I have become because of
it.
For the rest of this life I will always miss him, his
encouragement, his ability to make me feel like I was amazing, his
hilariously one-of-a-kind personality, his jokes, his pictures, his
inspiring posts, his stories, his voice, his example of service,
selflessness, and love, and his overall sheer awesomeness.
Thanks for everything, Jason. 'Til we meet again, my dear friend.
-George Benson
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