The best story I have is not actually about me. But for 4 years I volunteered in a youth shelter for homeless youth. Although we couldn't let kids who were over 18 spend the night (state law) we would lend them out blankets for the night providing the came while we were still open. I remember one night when we had closed (for a while at this point) and one girl started pounding on the door throwing a fit trying to get a blanket. I said to myself that this girl would never make it off (and sadly many kids never do). The next week, she came in crying. She had just called the cops on her abusive boyfriend and they had arrested him. She then got into a YMCA housing program that gives you a room for 60 days then your out. Most of the kids who went through that had a great 60 days, then they were out and back where they started. However, she used that time to get a job and find more longer term transitional housing. She would constantly stop by the shelter to thank us for our help afterwards. I was talking to one of the volunteer cordinaters after we heard that she was moving into her first appartment. I was telling him about the night she was pounding on the door trying to get a blanket and told him how I had said she wouldn't make it. The cordinater (who was there that night) remembered the night and told me that he was saying the same thing. I don't think either of us were ever so happy that someone did prove us wrong!

Benjamin