A young woman was standing on the sidewalk in her finest clothes. Many others stopped to ask if she needed assistance or where her parents were.

But no one noticed or cared when she stood in ragged and unclean clothes. It was a terrible truth that people judged her primarily on her outer looks and did not recognize her worth as a human being.

This behavior made it difficult to foresee a future where everyone would be treated equally, regardless of their financial standing or physical attractiveness. It was sad that some people’s lives were judged more important than others merely because they had more money or were more attractive.

The homeless man sitting in Dunkin’ Donuts was a classic example; he struggled to make ends meet with only spare change and was utterly ignored by people around him until the woman approached him.

She then made the selfless gesture of buying him coffee and a bagel out of her pocket in exchange for his willingness to sit and converse with her for nearly an hour before leaving for class. Before she left, he gave her a message that she had no idea what it meant.

We should all endeavor to create an environment where everyone is valued and appreciated regardless of their situation. This will go a long way toward making the world a better place for all of us. It shows that no matter how little someone has, they can still provide valuable insight and discourse if given the opportunity.

Casey Fischer was driving to Dunkin’ Donuts when she saw a homeless man begging for pennies by the side of the road. Chris, the man, told Fischer about his challenges with homelessness and his previous experiences with unfair treatment because of his position. She was so captivated by him that she invited him to join her at her table and paid for his supper.

Before she had to leave for class, he also acknowledged using narcotics in the past. However, before she left, Chris handed her a crumpled piece of paper with something scribbled that profoundly impacted Fischer. According to the paper, he wanted to commit suicide until he met her; this simple compassion energized Chris and gave him hope.

We must recognize and thank this brave young woman for her incredible compassion and charity to those less fortunate than herself. Casey has demonstrated that even the smallest acts may have a huge influence on the lives of others by extending an invitation to have a cup of coffee with someone who has so little. This is precisely what the world requires: people with empathic and loving hearts who want to make a difference in the lives of others around them.