I had never been the popular kid at the all girl's school MaryMount Academy. 
I was always shunned, picked on, or bullied because of my height, and frail appearance. Highschool life was tough as it was, and going through it in an all girl's school didn't make it any easier.

I would hang out with the other misfits, or sometimes alone. I always hoped someone would for once show me compassion. Even a little understanding. 

Until she came along. 

I'll never forget it, and it's my most endearing memory of this person I had never previously met, or would get to know in the future.

It was during math class, and my bullies were at it again. Talking me down as they usually did in their towering amazoness height. I remember being scared, walking to my locker after class was let out, and one of them followed me, harassing me...

Until Deidre stepped in, telling her to back off. I was so grateful for her kindness. If she hadn't interjected, who knows what could have happened.

We were all teens back then, and she was part of what I use to call "the popular group." But she wasn't like the others. She was different.
She wouldn't bully us misfits as the others would. She wouldn't involve herself in making others feeling bad. 

Deidre was simply a genuinely nice person, even at that young age. 

A year had passed, and I joined the volleyball team. To be honest, I was horrible at volley ball, but I wanted to get involved in extra-cirriculars. Again, another memory of Miss Urso's genuinely kind spirit comes to mind...
 
I remember practising my volleys, and no one help me. Who wanted to pair up with the shy, reserved, pip-squeak of a kid?

Not even the teachers were sympathic to my timidity. 

But she was.

She saw me struggling, came to my side, and showed me,
"No no, Mary. Look--like this," and she taught me how to properly volley the ball. She must've spent a good 15 minutes trying to show me how it was done, and I was more than happy to learn.

I could feel the other classmates looking at me and her, with expressions of "Why are you helping this girl?" But Deidre didn't seem to care. She saw someone needing help, and so she went to help them, regardless of what others were thinking or saying.

That's what I saw, and I was touched.

I was moved.

We were only 17, and when I felt like I was in the wrong place, making a big mistake taking part in this sport--she filled me with a small glimmer of hope. She made me feel like, "Hey...if one of the girls from the popular group thinks I'm worth even a moment of her time to teach...maybe I am in the right place. Maybe I should give it a shot."

She was a sweet girl, a was a very nice person. We never became good friends or anything of the sort, but we didn't have to. I was more than happy with the fact she never judged me, or others. She didn't have to.

Therefore I knew that that was just who she was.

She wasn't the type to pick on the nerds, or unpopular girls. 

She just saw us as people who needed a little help, or push from time to time. To give us a good kick in the inspiration, helping us in realizing that just because we may be small in size, we can make up for in heart. 

Thank you Deidre for being different from the others. 
Thank you for making my experience at MMA Academy a little bit easier, and for giving me those little pushes that I definitely needed.

Thank you for planting the seed of confidence and hope in a trembling 16/17 year old's heart back in 03/04 

I owe part of who I am today to your kindess during those days back in MMA.

Rest in Peace.

-Mary