Know People Before You Conclude

I moved to an entirely different state after completing my bachelor's degree. The community I am in currently opened my eyes to societal rot and the reasons behind the fall in morals and discipline among youths.

Above all, it has taught me not to judge without first understanding the circumstances behind the reason people behave in a certain way.

To cut the long story short, this community is one where students go to school late; you can see students walking majestically to school by 9am.

There is this particular girl who came to the house when my cousins had gone to school. I asked why she was just going to school by that time and she smiled and said nothing. It happened on two occasion and I concluded she was just like the rest.

Few days later, I asked my cousin and he said the girl does not stay with her biological family. She stays with a family whom she works for and in return, they pay her school fee.

In the mornings, she has to stay at the store and sell until whenever the woman wakes up before she can go to school. Meanwhile, the woman's children go to school very early.

It is what the girl has had to put up with for a while now and she has to continue to.

This has showed me the need to know people and understand the story behind why they do what they do.

It is sad but this is the reality with many children not living with their biological family.

Have you ever judged somebody before hearing their story? If yes, how did it make you feel?