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The Weekend That Changed My Life

People often ask me, “Kendal, when did your mindset start to shift?” For me, it goes back to a simple invitation. “Why don’t you come spend the weekend with us?” I said yes without really knowing what I was stepping into. I hopped on my friend Johan’s bus that Friday, thinking it would just be another normal weekend. But what I experienced changed the way I saw the world—and what I believed was possible for my life. A Glimpse Into Another World As the bus made its stops, I started noticing something I had never seen before. Kids were getting dropped off at homes that, to me, looked like mansions. Beautiful properties. Big yards. Houses that felt like they belonged in movies. I remember thinking, “Oh my goodness… this is how people live?” When we finally arrived at Johan’s house, I stepped off the bus and just stood there for a moment. It didn’t just look like a house—it felt like something completely outside of my reality. Where I grew up, we didn’t have homes like that. Walking inside, I wasn’t just seeing a different kind of house—I was witnessing a different kind of life. The Power of What You See That weekend, I experienced something even more powerful than the house itself. I saw what a loving, supportive family looked like. I saw a mother who cared deeply for her children. And I met Johan’s dad—a doctor at the local clinic—who left a lasting impression on me. The next morning, I woke up and saw him working out in the corner. Military-style. Focused. Disciplined. Later, he’d go for runs around the lake. Then he’d sit down and study. And in between all of that, he was present—with his family, as a husband and a father. I had never seen that level of discipline, drive, and balance before. And I remember thinking: “Whatever I do in life, I want to be like that.” That moment planted a seed in me. When Hope Feels Like It’s Leaving A few years later, around my Grade 6 birthday, Johan told me something that hit hard. His family was moving away. And just like that, I felt like I was losing more than a friend. I was losing someone who had given me hope. Someone who helped me see a different future. That feeling—hope—is something everyone deserves to experience. And when you feel like it’s slipping away, it can be incredibly heavy. A Moment of Generosity That Changed Everything Before they left, Johan’s family came to meet my mom. My mom, Inas, was a single parent doing everything she could for us. She worked hard. She sacrificed. She gave us everything she had—even when it wasn’t much. And Johan’s family saw something in her. Just like great leaders can recognize leadership in others—they saw her strength. Her determination. Her love for her kids. Before they left, they pulled my mom aside and said: “We know we’ve been giving Kendal rides to soccer. We know your kids want to keep playing sports. We have a gift for you.” And then they handed her the keys to a vehicle. Just like that. The Ripple Effect of One Decision That one decision changed everything. Because of that vehicle, my mom was able to drive me—and my siblings—to sports. From Grade 7 all the way through high school. Sports gave me hope. It gave me purpose. It gave me direction. It took me from a place of struggle… to a place where I could start believing in something more. And what I didn’t realize at the time was this: That single act of kindness didn’t just impact me—it created a ripple effect. It shaped the way I see the world. It shaped the way I show up for others. It shaped the mission I carry today. The Decisions You Make Matter Here’s what I want you to take away from my story: The decisions you make today matter more than you think. That one act of generosity… That one moment where you choose to help someone… That one decision to show up with kindness… It can change someone’s life. Maybe not instantly. Maybe not visibly. But the ripple effect is real. I’m living proof of that. Final Thought You never know who is watching you. You never know whose life you might impact. And you never know how far that impact will go. So choose to lead with generosity. Choose to lead with purpose. Choose to make decisions that create positive ripple effects. Because one day… someone might tell a story about how you changed their life.