Individuals Paying It Forward

Dear Catherine,

It's kind of funny the way I learned about "Pay It Forward" I was attending a probation school at the time, which was Mid Valley CEC in Van Nuys, California. Irene Brennick had her weekly OALmodels program at my school. One week, once everybody was seated, Irene asked the question that would forever change my perspective on life. "Has anybody ever seen the movie, Pay it Forward?"

Everybody said that they have never heard of the movie before until that day. So Irene said "let's watch it then" So we watched it and by the end of the movie you could feel the impact the movie made on everyone in the room, although nobody wanted to admit it, I knew It had changed their perspective on life as well.

It's just un-imaginable that someone that you have never met before in your life can do you a favor no matter how large or small and is expecting nothing in return but that you do three more favors for somebody else. The concept of the movie was just unthinkable for some people, but for me it was a wonderful concept. It made me think of the possibilities that if something like this were to really happen it would change a whole lot of people's lives, and would also help people help each other. This is what has inspired me to write you this letter.

Just the other day I was getting off the metro rail train. I was walking up the steps when I see this woman with about five kids and she also has a baby in a stroller. Then I look more closely and then I see that her husband is on crutches. She is standing there wondering how she is going to get up the stairs and watch her kids at the same time. I asked her if she needed any help. This woman looks at me like I'm crazy or something. I helped her up the staircase anyway. Her husband thanked me. It felt good to Pay It Forward! . I'm going to continue doing it in the
future.

Sincerely,
Pedro Vidaca