I’m a taxi driver, and one rainy night I picked up a young woman who was soaked, upset, and out of options. She told me her stepmother had thrown her out over rent, and she had nowhere to go. Hearing that, I couldn’t just drop her on a corner. I gave her a little money to help with a motel and made sure she got there safely.

Months later, I ran into her again at a hospital. This time, she wasn’t defeated—she was glowing. She told me she had passed her final exam and finally landed the job she’d been working toward.

She thanked me for helping her that night, saying that small act of kindness gave her the strength to keep fighting for her future. I was surprised that something so simple could mean so much.

It reminded me that even small gestures can change the direction of someone’s life. Sometimes, all a person needs is a little support to keep going and build the future they deserve.