Regina was a wiry little 5th grader. She would get her assignments done in class while the teacher was explaining what to do (like I would), and then she would goof off and cause trouble while the other kids were working because she was finished. Her mom was dying of cancer (she passed away in Aug '02 and Regina has a new step-mom as of Nov '03) and her best friend's dad had just died of cancer. Her school put her in the PALS program at Biola (which I was a part of). They pair kids up with Biola students so that they can hang out for an hour a week in a mentoring relationship at school. Simply that special attention does wonders for some kids... Regina was a little more complicated than that.
She and I are total opposites: she's punk, I'm preppy; she likes sports, I'm a card player; she climbs trees, I take pictures of them. I think the only things we had in common were a love for the color pink, people, making random noises, and music (but completely different kinds). She got into horror movies and couldn't believe that I couldn't even handle watching Van Helsing with her. And then she would laugh at me when I tried to dance to music (her music). I'd go to all her favorite stores even though they scared me and I stood out like a sore thumb.
But I tried to be a support to her when she didn't have the motivation to do her schoolwork anymore. I tried to be the steady figure in her life that listened to her and believed her and had faith in her abilities and her integrity. When everyone seemed to be trying to label her and assume the worst, I tried to show her that I still had faith in her and that she should have faith in herself and not listen to them when she knew what they were saying wasn't true. And I tried to re-familiarize her with the Christian worldview (her mom had taught her a little) with everyday conversations and whatever questions she asked me about life.
Soon after we first met: 3 yrs ago (Me - 19; Regina - 10)
Saying Goodbye: Me - 22; Regina - 13 & headed for high school
Regina and I plan to write letters to each other because we won't be living in the same area anymore. It was really hard to say goodbye.
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