It is a concept we hear about often: people helping one another and that attitude moving towards other people. It is better known as "paying it forward."
This idea of paying it forward was shown in the steps one business man took to help a single mother in the Baltimore area.
Today on Good Morning Maryland @ 9, Sherrie Johnson introduced us to Deidre O'Neill and tells us the story of how Myron Brown decided to help Deidre out. Megan then talked to both Deidre and Myron about the idea of paying it forward. Why Myron reached out to Deidre, how it has affected Deidre, and how Deidre plans to pay that debt forward herself.
To see Sherrie's story and hear the emotional and heartfelt interview on today's show, click on the video box to the right of this article. And you can find a copy of Sherrie's story below.
24-year-old Deidre O'Neill is not only a full time mother. She is also a full time student at the University of Phoenix, Maryland. She also works full time at a local hotel.
She has her hands full with a toddler and a litter of kittens. It can be overwhelming, but Deidre said thanks to a generous gift from a hotel guest, things are a bit easier. She received a new laptop to help with her studies.
"What was going through my mind was what did I do to make this gentleman stop and notice something about me? Here I am just a regular person working the front desk, not really thinking about much. He stopped his busy schedule to do something nice for me and all I did was give him a cup of coffee," said O'Neill.
The gift came from Myron Brown. He was traveling through the area on business. He was impressed with Deidre's optimistic and hard working attitude so much that he wanted to give her the laptop, not only to help with her education, but also to encourage her to keep pushing forward no matter how tough things may get.
Deidre is putting her new laptop to good use.
"I'm able to open up my computer do my homework right away, sign in. I've saved all the websites to my favorites so I can go right then and there. Anytime I'm somewhere and I have the laptop and I have a free moment without anyone around or Phoenix running around I can do assignments a head of time so when I get home I have more time for her," said O'Neill.
Brown said this is a way to "Pay It Forward." He hopes Deidre can someday help someone else. Deidre said this experience will set a good example for her young daughter, Phoenix.
"I wanted her to have wings because I wanted her to know no matter what people dump on you in life you can always rise above it because I gave you the wings to do so," said O'Neill.
Thanks to the help of a stranger, a mother and daughter can continue to fly. Deidre plans to pursue a career in Communications.
