#GivingTuesday #MyGivingStory
人生中，你是否曾因為一句話或是一個善意的舉動，改變了你的人生，甚至是拯救了你的生命？
在這個繁忙的歲末時刻，讓我們一起停下片刻，回顧生命裡想要感謝的人。儘管教師節一年只有一天，但對我們來說，每一天、每一刻都是感謝教師的日子。教育與學習，一直以來都是嚮光的核心價值。
在我的人生中，有一位老師至今依然深刻影響著我，他在我人生最黑暗的時刻，給了我一絲希望。那位老師，就是我在美國加州就讀高中時，在我多堂課任教的 Mr. Jerry Petrini。
當時的我正經歷人生低潮，因為持有毒品被抓，內心充滿恐懼與自責，覺得自己再也無法擺脫這個陰影。我坐在教室裡，試圖忍住淚水，因為我知道這件事情對我的家人和我的未來所帶來的影響。然而，正是在那個時刻，Mr. Petrini 在二十幾名學生之中，察覺到了我的異樣。他走到我身旁，輕聲地邀請我一起到外面的長椅坐下。那時，他看著我，只是簡單幾句關心，卻讓我感受到此生都不會忘記的溫暖。也正因為他的那份關心，才讓我重新找回勇氣，繼續走下去。
多年後，我曾試圖聯繫他，想親自告訴他他對我的影響有多深遠，並分享我現在正在做的事情。遺憾的是，最終得知他已於 2023 年離世。
當我在描述嚮光理念時提到做一個「關心他人的人」，我總是會想起 Mr. Petrini。正是他主動給予的那份關懷，讓我深刻理解一個人能在他人生命中所帶來的影響可以如此深遠。
在嚮光，我們相信每個人都有能力去傳達知識、帶來正面的影響。我們團隊中的每一位成員都是「老師」，用自己真誠的力量去幫助他人，讓這個世界變得更好。
感謝每一位支持我們的人，感謝你們成為這個大家庭的一部分。
Thank you, Mr. Petrini.
Yours forever,
Daisy
What is a moment that you remember in the past when a word or act of kindness changed the trajectory of your life – or saved your life?
We want to take time out of the hectic year end flurry of events to remind ourselves to appreciate Teachers Day; a singular day that may be officially on the 28th of September each year but that take place every day and every moment for us because teaching and learning is a core fundamental value of Bright Side Projects.
One such moment and teacher that I want to mention changed my life and actually nudged me towards staying alive. When I was a teenager growing up in Goleta, California, I had Mr. Jerry Petrini who was one of the teachers I had in various classes at Dos Pueblos High School.
I remember specifically going through a really bad time in my life, having been arrested for possession of drugs, and was holding back my tears in class as I felt the heavy weight and impact that this would have not on me but my family and my future. In a large class of approximately 25 students, Mr. Petrini took time to notice. In the middle of class Mr. Petrini led me outside and sat down with me on a bench, concern on his face and asked how I was. That moment, gesture of care and those words meant so much I felt it changed my life and is one of the top ten pivotal moments I’ll never forget. Because of it I kept going and actually tried to reach out to him a few years ago to tell him what an impact he had on my life and what I do now. I was not successful in finding him, however, and learned that he passed away in 2023.
When I write about being a “caring adult” in the description for Bright Side Projects, my non profit, this is the person and that is the moment I think about.
At Bright Side Projects we have to come to the realization in life that each and every one of us has the potential to pass on knowledge to each other and we hope that it can bring a positive impact on someone’s life. Each member of our team is a teacher in providing valuable input and their warmth into building better communities in society.
We want to thank you for being a part of the family and supporting us.
Thank you, Mr. Petrini.
Yours forever,
Daisy
