Michael

So I love soda. Once in a while on my way to school I'll stop and pick up a fountain drink. One day I went to this gas station by the freeway because it was just that, by the freeway and at the time, I didn't normally go there. Anywho, I walk in and at the register is this guy I've known since....psh, 3rd-4th grade or so. I didn't think he remembered me. Anyway, my first thought of him, like it usually is of people in his postion, are that in this time since we've been out of high school, he hasn't done much with himself. I mean, hes working at a gas station, which I personally consider the job you get when you absolutely can't get a job anywhere else. Basically, I start judging and I do hold some disdain for him considering he didn't seem to remember me and we went to school together for so long. It's mostly sad to me, that people with all these opportunities in life end up bypassing them all to work at places such as a gas station. And more importantly, hes only 22...his whole life is ahead of him.
I believe it was yesterday, I returned to the gas station on my way to school to retrive my beloved soda. He rang me up this time. I go to pay and he says, "nah, dont worry about it, have a good one." I smile, thank him and return to my car. My mind stopped dead in its tracks. For me this wasnt about a free soda. It was about the fact that I had judged someone based on the few facts I did know about him without considering all options. He obviously had remembered me which means a lot considering I didn't have many friends and he was one of the more popular guys. And really, he could be going to school at night or this could be an extra job (still doubtful) or just something more promising than what I had laid out for him in my head. Maybe he just hasn't had the right encouragement in his life to drive him somewhere better. No matter what, I realize I should hold my immediate judgements aside in the case that I'm beyond wrong....which is more likely than not.