At 2 AM, our car broke down on a deserted road. A kind college student, Zayd Nouri, stopped and drove us to safety, refusing any payment.
Years later, we saw him on the news—now a mayor who rose from foster care to success. Then we realized something painful: back in my city planning job, I had pushed a complaint that shut down the tutoring center where he worked.
I met him and apologized. He held no grudge—instead, he said that setback pushed him to aim higher and change his life.
Inspired, we began volunteering. Months later, he launched a program helping others rebuild—and even credited us publicly.
What started as one small act of kindness became a ripple that changed countless lives.