I don't think we will ever know how many lives we impact. I try to kind, friendly, and helpful to everyone I encounter. You never know how a small gesture such as a smile can change someones life.

Other times we do know how we impact lives. One of my graduating debaters thanked me and my co-coaches for making debate an option for him. He said that if it wasn't for debate, he would have gone home after school and hung with his friends in the neighborhood. Many of them either joined a gang or got into drugs. Sadly a few of his old friends died as a result of their lifestyle. He said had it not been for debate, he would have choosen that lifestyle and would probably be dead.