Inspirational Feature by J1 Reporter
Becca Williams

Screaming. Running. Disaster everywhere. A hero arrives and risks her life to save a terrified, trembling group of people. Inspirational? Without a doubt.

But that doesn’t always have to be the case. Sometimes motivation or respect is found in a place one would least expect. Sometimes a person doesn’t need to overcome a major obstacle  in order to be well-admired by others. Sometimes, a person is so wonderful, that she changes the world and the lives around her simply by being herself. And Kylie Schonhoff does exactly that.

Kylie is a very typical yet extraordinary 6-year-old. She began kindergarten this fall at Bennington Pine Creek Elementary and is slowly learning the routine of school. She already found a role model in her teacher. “I want to be a teacher when I grow up because they’re fun and nice,” she said. At home, Kylie assists with taking care of her younger brother and sister, reads her library books, catches bugs in her backyard, and explores all the wonders of the world through the eyes of one cool gal.

Most children learn polite manners and appropriate behavior at a young age. But judging from a boy’s cries of outrage that his mom won’t buy him a fourth Nerf gun at the grocery store and a girl’s whining about how she just absolutely must have the kid’s meal or she’ll definitely die in the fast food line, parents’ lessons don’t always stick right away.

Kylie, though, enjoys spending her time differently from yelling and pouting. Kylie is a strong believer in doing what you’re told and following the rules. “Don’t lie because it’s bad, and Mommy and Daddy won’t know the truth,” she said. Despite this, she also practices forgiveness in her everyday life. “I ignore mean people or tell them to stop, but if they ask me to play with them then I will,” Kylie said.

Kylie has a sense of innocence about the world and the people in it, as most kids her age do. If she could change one thing in her life, she would “have candy every day for lunch and dinner,” she said.

She’s greatly unexposed to the evils of war, discrimination, or crime. Kylie sees everyone around her as good. Pure. Capable of incredible things.

Her opinion of you is so high before even knowing you that it makes you want to be a better person. “I love everyone in the world, even strangers,” she said. You strive to live up to who she believes you to be and fight to never prove her wrong.

Kylie is just one example of the millions of wonderful people out there, all great for very different reasons. By simply going throughout her day and keeping her positive attitude and optimistic views, she empowers and moves the people around her. She proves that anyone can be inspiring and impact another person’s life.

To start your day off right, wake up and tell yourself these wise words of Gandhi, “Be the change Kylie Schonhoff wants to see in the world.” Or something like that.