"Pimping out my life story."
This evening with other volunteer college mentors, I attended a Migrant 101 workshop at the high school. "You helped me better understand migrant student's lives and increased my empathy and compassion," I told the instructor.
We had a fascinating discussion. Some of the volunteer college mentors were new.
"Do some students feel they are pimping out their life story on college applications? In a New York Times article, a young man wrote exactly that."
"Last year, the girl I mentored didn't want to call her mother 'mentally ill' in her essay," I said. "I gave her that. She didn't want to label her mother so I honored her request."
"Do their parents see me as a white savior?" one woman asked. "I worry about that."
"Their parents see your good heart and kindness," I replied. "All of you. Students go home and talk about you, how you are helping them. Parents grow fond of you through their kid."
"One mother made me beautiful, hand-embroidered pillowcases. Another mother stitched my likeness on a quilt for her daughter to take to college!"
I collapsed forward on the table, burying my face in my arms and groaned. They laughed.
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8 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Wow what you are doing is a great contribution to the social fabric of our country. It can be very hard to earn trust in that situation. Your determination and talent are now a part of each person you help and you will be there with them where ever they go.
Congratulations and keep up the the good fight.
Best Regards,
J
scout123456
Level 5
Sep 20, 2019
1
You amaze me more and more as you let your inner thoughts and projects out to the rest of us,,You are very inspirational in a very sweet way,with no forethought of being that way,,Love to meet a very lovely super nice human being,,Sending you warm hugs for just being you the way you are 
RoyMillar
Level 9
Sep 18, 2019
2
Aww...gee, shucks. Thank you for your kind words. We all need positive strokes.
Most of the time I think I'm ridiculous with my high energy and enthusiasm. "Put a cork in it, Miller," I think. "Slow down."
Personal goals: listen better, pause to let people gather their thoughts before replying, and be more kind.
As a Millar to a Miller that is an excellent personal goal that we all can take hied of and inspire to do
These stories and more show how everyone has a good heart. Only psychopaths lack goodness but even those if we somehow manage to fix them in early childhood they can be good-hearted people in the end. That's I refuse to lose faith in humanity and the kindness everyone can show.
Neenz
Level 7
Sep 18, 2019
2
When you pimp something are you selling it? I've always imagined the word as referring to a man who takes money from street women for protection. I'm also aware of wanting my ex-wife to cut my hair and she asked "how much are you going to pay me?"
DenoPenno
Level 9
Sep 18, 2019
2
To win scholarships, students need to touch the hearts of scholarship committees with their essays.
@LiterateHiker I agree.
It's strange how much inner reward you receive from giving yourself to help others. It's a lovely feeling.
Petter
Level 9
Sep 18, 2019
3
You're right. Being a college mentor is the most rewarding volunteer work I have done.
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