Charlee Jones is a 9th grader at CJHS who takes into consideration how others are treated. Throughout Jones’s life, she has demonstrated the power of treating others with kindness and how simple acts of happiness can change one’s life. When talking with her, it was easy to see that she tries her best in everything she does and wants people to feel supported when they are around her.
During our conversation, I asked Jones, “How would you like to be remembered?”
“I want to be remembered as someone who always tried their best, and was kind to everyone. Kindness has always been very important to me because I love to make people feel good. I also want to be known as a hard worker; I put my best work into everything. I believe that is so important because I never want to let myself or anyone else down,” Jones said.
Jones doesn’t just want to succeed, she also wants others to feel good when they are around her. She believes that not only is treating others well important, but also that small acts of care make a difference. For example, her kindness comes from real experiences in her life.
“One moment when a person’s kindness made a difference in my life was when I was really stressed about school and felt overwhelmed. A teacher noticed I was struggling, even though I hadn’t said anything, and took a few minutes after class to check in with me. She reassured me that it was okay to ask for help and helped me make a simple plan to catch up. Her kindness made me feel seen and supported, and it reminded me that small acts of care can have a big impact,” Jones said.
Through other people’s actions, whether it was her teachers or friends, they showed Jones who she wanted to be. Some of these moments through life reflect both her happiest and saddest times, shaping who she is today. Many of Jones’s happiest moments come from soccer and the people she surrounds herself with. Although most moments are happy, every person will come across a struggle, and for Jones, it is seeing other people upset.
“Some of the happiest moments of my life have been playing soccer. Soccer has also brought me some of my closest friendships, and the memories from practices, games, and tournaments mean a lot to me. The saddest moments for me are seeing other people upset, especially my parents. When they’re stressed or sad, it affects me deeply because I care about them so much,” Jones shared.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue the warm and kind presence she gives everyone. From her love of soccer to her love for people, it is clear that kindness is a big part of who she is. Jones’s story shows that everyone will have ups and downs, but we should all continue to show the best version of ourselves because we never know what someone is going through. From teachers to everyday students, Jones’s story shows that everyone has a chance to love as she does.
