There was a time in my life when I realized that life is hard when you try to live it alone. I have always been shy, and growing up, my relationships with people were not the best. It is not that we didn't get along, I just had a hard time connecting with people and letting myself be vulnerable in relationships.

    Two years ago, I was riding the bus like any other day. That day, however, there was a girl sitting next to me that I had never seen before. She started talking to me and introduced herself as Maribel. Her English was not the greatest, and we had a hard time communicating with each other at first. There was something about her though that made her seem different from everyone else, besides the fact that she was from Mexico. Here was a girl who came all the way to another country to learn English, and she was willing to be friendly and put herself on the line despite that she knew her English needed improvement.

    Maribel and I became good friends over the year that she was in America. She had a bubbly, friendly personality and she made up for the qualities that I lacked. We spent almost every weekend together. At a time when I needed a friend the most, God placed her in my life to be an inspiration and a comfort to me.

    When she left, I missed her a lot. She had stirred in me a desire to connect with people and to reach out to others like she had reached out to me. I was still shy, but my youth group has helped me a lot to break out of my shell. The past year has been a process for me, in becoming more outgoing and being more vulnerable about myself to others.

    We need other people in our lives to strengthen and encourage us. I believe that everything we do or say has an impact on someone. A kind word, a smile, or a simple hello can brighten someone's day. We have the power to build people up or destroy them with our words. I believe God can change anyone, and I know he is changing me to become more friendly so that I can reach out to others with His love.