Catherine Ryan Hyde's Pay It Forward

“Pay it Forward”

Sometimes in life we encounter experiences that alter the way we view ourselves and the world around us. These happenstances can be as informal as meeting a new person or as simple as stumbling upon a new book. These unexpected twists of fate can now and then make one reconsider who they are and what actions they put forth into their everyday life. My life altering chance encounter was with a 1999 novel written by Catherine Ryan Hyde titled simply, “Pay it Forward”.
One night in a very unwelcoming location, Hyde was inspired with the words to write this beautiful novel after two complete strangers rushed to her aid moments before her car was engulfed in flames. Unable to locate the two strangers after the incident, Hyde

never got the chance to express her appreciation for the lifesaving assistance she received. Hyde did not want her gratefulness to be left unexpressed, so she decided to find a way to pay back the kindness she received by paying it forward to others in need. Hyde took it even further when she attempted to spread her concept of bettering society with a continuous series of good deeds to the world through her eye-opening novel.
This novel describes the experiences of Trever, a twelve-year old boy in a not so ideal home life, after his seventh grade class was assigned an extra-credit project to develop and put into action a plan to change the world for the better.

Being a bit pessimistic, it was difficult for me to imagine the possibility that any one single person could change a world inhabited by 7.4 billion people. What was even more challenging for me to perceive was if that person were a child; but in this novel, Trevor not only created but also implemented a goodwill chain that began to impact the world around him. As I continued reading this book, I began to wonder if something like this were actually possible.
Even after reading this novel, Hyde’s concept of paying it forward remained firmly on my mind. As demonstrated in Trevor’s plan to change the world, what if all it took was performing three random acts of kindness to three complete strangers who then performed three other random acts of kindness to three additional strangers? If all who received these random acts of kindness stayed under the same commitment to pay it forward to others, could we see a chain reaction that would change the world? Could someone as young as Trevor with a similar background, really make a positive impact in today’s

world?
My thought process began to change and I became consciously aware that what I had once deemed impossible, really was not that hopeless after all. As I realized that despite one’s age or current circumstances, every individual on this planet has the capability to positively impact the world around them, my whole demeanor shifted. My daily good deed was no longer enough. I wanted to make a difference. I wished for the chance to constructively impact someone’s life in a way that they will then want to go do the same for another.
I have yet to find complete satisfaction in my quest to make the world a better place, but maybe that is how it is meant to be. In a world so accustomed to selfishness, perhaps I am to continue my charitable deeds in order to make a considerable difference that will last even after I am gone. Each one of us will leave a mark, or a legacy, behind for future generations. Have you thought about what kind of mark you will leave behind?