Page 2 - MidWeek - Mar 16, 2022

2 MIDWEEK MARCH 16, 2022
A Life-changing Gesture
“Life is full of surprises. You never know who you will meet who might change your life forever.” — Unattributed
TFeel Good, Do Good
Depressed and out of work, Billy Ray Har- ris was a homeless panhandler. He had migrated away from friends and family to street life when benefits had run out and job applications had gone dry.
his may not be the feel good story of the year, but it’s surely a contender. It stars an underachiever, or at least the appearance of one. At age 17, he was
one of them was better for what they did for a fellow human.
stoked to get his driver’s license — until his loving mom stunned him with news that he was an undocumented im- migrant. High school and living abroad are tough enough, but with his defiant attitude and 1.3 grade-point average, he was on a fast track to nowhere. He couldn’t drive, get a job without a social security number, or open a bank account.
One day, a woman opened her change purse, dropped her coins in his basket and went her way. That night, when the man was counting the day’s change, he found it. There tucked in the corner of the case was a large diamond ring — if it was a diamond ring.
Our lives have greatest meaning when we do good for others.
I am convinced that our own salvation lies in what we ourselves do to make the world a better place for others and in offering the possibility of a new beginning to some- one else.
But that’s when this saga becomes movie territory. After failing to get into college through multiple applications over three years, he was accepted at Kapi‘olani Commu- nity College. With assistance from empathetic teachers and counselors, he got a campus job and became a participant in the wonderful Lunalilo Scholars program — an opportunity that provides funding, peer mentorship and an amazing support network to help those who might not traditionally see college as an option.
to look for it.
“I got it for you,” Harris
ment ring he had returned was busy trying to reward him. And reward him, they did. The money they raised changed that man’s life forever.
Through initial funding from the Kaneta Foundation, this program is now celebrating its 10th anniversary at KCC, providing hope and help where perhaps none previously existed. More than 600 students have gone through this program. Graduates have become program mentors, ad- visers, peers, leaders and allies, helping others trying to get through life’s myriad complexities.
ly were so impressed by the man’s honesty, so grateful to have their engagement ring returned, they began a fund solicitation to reward such honesty and care.
And all the people who do- nated to the fund not only had the satisfaction of rewarding honesty, but they also man- aged to save a life. Billy Ray Harris reconnected with his family, then found a place to live and was finally able to get a job.
Thirty one percent of the Lunalilo Scholars since 2012 have been the first in their families to attend college. While college may not be for everyone, it can be a lifeline for those willing to strive and sacrifice; it can put people on a road that enhances career and life options.
The woman whose engage-
But no, the jeweler who ap- praised it for him said it was no fake. In fact, the jeweler told him he would give him $4,000 for it. Harris put the ring back in his pocket and went back to his street corner. He would keep the ring safe, he thought, in case someone
said, and to her shock and amazement returned the ring. The woman and her fami-
Sister Joan Chittister is a bestselling author and advo- cate for justice and equality, and has been called one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. Chittister is a Benedictine nun of a sister monastery in Waialua and has lectured at Chaminade University. Visit joanchittister.org.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
came back for it. And sure enough, the next day, the woman who had dropped her ring there by accident returned
Think of it: Billy Ray Har- ris, the beggar, was so busy caring about someone else, he never thought to enrich himself.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Every character in this dra- ma discovered once again what happiness is, and every single
KELLEY
with Joan Chittister, OSB
Our aforementioned wandering, wondering youngster didn’t just get through KCC ... he became class valedic- torian, finished at University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa, and is now prepared for the daunting challenge of law school! Through KCC’s initiative, he stayed in Hawai‘i via DACA: the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. He thrived, overcoming issues like his mom having to move back to their native home. “Sometimes,” he says, “all you need is a hug and a few kind words from your second mom to get you through it.”
He didn’t just get through it, he busted through. So big mahalo to KCC on the 10th anniversary of its Lunalilo Scholars program, our unnamed protagonist, and vision- aries Marian and Lester Kaneta and other sponsors. Some- times special people take real action, and don’t just think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com