An Unsung Hero (Part 2)
By Harnoor Gill
Harnoor Gill, a KidSpirit contributor in Ontario, finishes describing an unsung hero in his community.
In 2010, at the Big Daddy Festival I performed an East Indian Punjabi Dance. There was no emcee to announce my dance and what I was doing because the performers were randomly performing on the stage. At that moment I got butterflies in my stomach because I didn’t know what to say. Mme Bottomley gave me courage and confidence in what I was doing, convincing me in such a way that introducing myself and my dance didn’t feel like a big deal anymore. She couldn’t have done any better and I started my dance. Those 10 to 15 minutes felt like an hour, but once I was done I bowed and got a huge round of applause which meant that everyone enjoyed the color I had added to the festival.
There was another event not too long ago where she gave me the same courage but in a different way. The Canwest Canspell Regional Spelling Bee is held at the campus of Ryerson University in Toronto. After winning the bees held at my school, I reached the regionals. At this level I was representing my school and my hometown Georgetown. Rounds went by on stage and whenever I spelled the word and got it correct, Mme Bottomley and her family held a huge sign that said, “Go Harnoor!” and cheered me on. That kept me motivated, encouraged, and determined to win until the dreadful bell rang at the word, “squeamish” on round four. That was depressing but I wasn’t there to win, I had come to learn.
“Thank” is a small word compared to her help, motivation, and dedication to my success.
