In my senior year of high school, I made a friend that changed my life for the better. His name was Daniel. He was definitely not your average teenage boy. Instead, he was one of the greatest people I ever came to know in my lifetime. You couldn't let his looks deceive you, because he was more capable of great things than a lot of people that I had known. Sadly, Daniel was born with Down Syndrome. It ultimately made his everyday life harder than someone else's. Throughout it all, I have come to find out that Daniel is a gift to this world. He will undoubtedly influence anyone he comes into contact with. If only you could see that smile. It was always there. Although he would get grumpy sometimes and tended to not be very fond of steps. Who is these days? He loved to dance and draw. He was also Captain America and the Avengers' biggest fan. He loved to interact with people, especially the ladies. Yep, Daniel was always quite the ladies man. I truly believe he will influence many in his lifetime.

I guess you're wondering how I met Daniel. Well, that's a story in itself. It all started in the last semester of high school. My high school coach approached me and presented me with an opportunity that would eventually change my life. The school was putting together a class for the second semester where everyday students were going to interact with the special education kids on a day-to-day basis and my basketball coach was over the class. I was hesitant at first, because I didn't know if I could interact with these kids. Would they accept me? I figured out that this was a opportunity I couldn't refuse. I agreed to take the class. Our assignment was simple. We were to prepare these kids for the Special Olympics and train them for each event. I still remember the first day of that class. That was the day we picked the kid that we would work with. I remember how Daniel approached me with a big smile and said, "You!" Then he tapped me on my side. Something told me at that moment that he was the one I wanted to work with. Later that day, I found out that I also had an art class with Daniel where I could work with him. I was about to spend a lot of time with him.

As time went on, I trained Daniel and I taught him how to do new things. I continued to push him to work every day no matter what we were doing. At first, he wasn't used to it. Then he realized that he could trust me and that we're going to have fun. The weekly schedule of the class was to work on Olympic events on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then on Tuesday and Thursday we would have a play day where we played games with the other kids. Let me tell you that I quickly learned that Daniel hated to run. He couldn't stand it. By the time he finished running, he would always ask coach for a drink at the end of every class. Some days he even got one until coach ran out.

Daniel also taught me a few things along the way. He taught me some new dance moves. He taught me how to be patient and always be attentive. He taught me that the little things in life really do matter. He taught me how to be nice to people even when they're mean to you. He ultimately taught me that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a way. He was a living example of this. His life was already harder than all of ours just by waking up every morning, but he never let it stop him. He never got down about it. Instead, he just enjoyed the things that made him happy. Daniel had became one of my best friends without even knowing it. Fate had brought us together and we both influenced one another and learned from each other. We created a bond that couldn't be broken.

Soon spring came and the special Olympics were in sight. That day will forever go down as one of my favorite memories. It was the happiest I had ever seen Daniel. I even got to meet his parents. Daniel ended up competing in a number of events that day from running events to throwing events. He even won a few medals that day and made sure he showed them off. He deserved to. He earned them.

I tell this story for a reason. I tell it because there is so much to learn from it. It shows that special education kids or special people are some of the greatest people you could ever meet. "Special Ed" does these people no justice. That can't be labeled by something like that. They are not weird. They are different. They aren't incapable. They are highly capable. They aren't dumb. They are intelligent. Ignorance plays a big role in those few people that beg to differ. They didn't choose to be born the way they were. God just made them that way. They each serve a unique purpose. Never hesitate to help them. Their lives are already hard enough. Love them. Learn from them. It will change your life, I promise.

I hope Daniel always lives life the way he does now with a big smile and open arms. He serves as an example for us all. I know I will no longer be there to watch out for him since I am quickly approaching the next chapter of my life with college and he still has a few years of high school left. I'll try my best to check in on him when I can. To those of you who know Daniel, continue to look over him and lead him in the right direction and learn from him. Until next time, Daniel, I love you, bud and thank you for opening my eyes and teaching me new things.