While assisting a nonprofit with the design of a shelter for battered women and children, I was using my wife's fancy camera that she uses in her photography business. The camera has a lot of advanced features that I can barely use, and it looks impressive with its interchangeable lenses. As I was taking photos, I noticed a teenage kid eyeing the camera. He was pretty rough looking, and it was a little unnerving that he was looking at the camera so intensely. If I wasn't inside of this housing facility, I would have definitely felt worried that I might be robbed.
After noticing the kid for a few minutes repeatedly checking out my camera, I asked him if he wanted to take some photos for me to "help me do my job easier." He looked a bit shocked and very excited at the same time. He eagerly said "yes!" I stood between him and the exit door, and handed him the camera (just in case he tried to run off with it, I could prevent him from leaving). I put the strap around his neck, and said, "as long as you don't drop it, you won't hurt it, so have fun." I showed him a few buttons to push, and then I instructed him to follow behind me and shoot pictures of the things I was measuring. I offered him a few bits of insight on how he might frame the photos, so they would be more helpful for me.
When I was done, I offered to pay him for his time, but he turned me down. It was obvious that simply using the camera was enough payment. He thanked me and replied, "that was really cool. I'd like to get a camera like that one day." I told him he was really good at it, and he probably would end up with a nice camera if he worked at it.
A few years later, I ran into the director of the housing program, and she told me something that changed my life. She said, "do you remember the boy that helped you with the photos awhile back?" I said, "no, not really, sorry." She explained him a bit further, and eventually she jogged my memory a little. She reminded me that I let one of the teenage kids that lived in the shelter use my expensive camera. She said that he never really had a father figure in his life, and that small gesture had a big impact on him. She explained how it ignited a passion in him and changed him from a fairly disobedient kid to someone who had purpose and meaning in his life. She said he was pursuing an education in photography and hopes to be a photographer some day. She thanked me for my kindness, and I left with a feeling of sadness.
I was sad for two reasons: 1. I was sad that this kid didn't have the basic needs met in his upbringing, so I felt guilty that I was much more fortunate than him. 2. Until that moment, I never realized how big of an impact such a meaningless moment could have on another person. It made me feel like I may have helped or even hurt so many other people without even realizing it. This was just one opportunity that I knew the cause AND effect of my actions.
This encounter made me realize that the smallest things we do can have meaningful consequences on others. As an architect, I interact with a ton of people: other architects, engineers, builders, clients, clients' kids, clients' neighbors, building department staff, material suppliers, etc. At any moment, I have the chance to make a difference in their lives. Additionally, as a soccer coach, I have more opportunities to make a difference as a role model to younger people.
This is a major responsibility, and I hope you will allow this story to help you realize your potential impact and the responsibility that corresponds with your interactions with others. Seize that opportunity by being aware of it.
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