Someone You Should Know 1/2 by Lauren Pector https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv Please copy and paste your story below. Then, read as many stories as you can, and comment on at least 5. en-us 2023-05-18 12:45:54 UTC 2025-11-03 10:35:58 UTC hello@padlet.com jon parker https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596297765 The person I think you should know is my dad, Tom Parker. My dad always says, “Be nice to everyone, it always comes back”. His story begins  when he was in grade school in Lombard, Illinois. There was a girl in his class that had a cleft lip. A cleft lip is when the lip is split into two separate parts, it can make it challenging for the person to speak and eat. A cleft lip is a common birth defect and it is fixed by surgery.  The girl in his class did not have the surgery.  My dad  treated her like how he treated the rest of his classmates. He did not treat her any different just because she had a cleft lip. 

He would talk to her in the hallway, say hi, or have a conversation with her. This went on throughout grade school and high school. The last time my dad saw her was at their high school graduation in 1988. Eventually, my dad went to college for Psychology. Fast forward 15 years after high school graduation, my dad was working for a Phamacuetical Company working with doctors.

A big part of my dad’s job was to present to doctors information about new medicine.  One of my dad’s  most important customers was a large family practice office with nine important doctors. It was challenging to speak with the doctors. This office would only allow pharmaceutical representatives to present information on new medications. When my dad got a new medication , he only got one chance to present the information to the doctors. 

My dad was waiting to speak with the doctors. He was in a large room with eight doctors, and they were all waiting for the final doctor to arrive. My dad was very nervous because this was his first time presenting information to very important doctors. The ninth doctor walked into the room. My dad immediately reconized the final doctor as the girl from his grade school but now her lip was fixed. As soon as the doctor made eye contact with my dad she began to cry hard. She ran across the room, hugged my dad, and buried her head crying uncontrollably.  All the other doctors stood up in confusion and worry.  The doctors looked at my dad to try and figure out what was wrong. My dad had no idea what was going on, he had not seen her since high school graduation 15 years ago. 

After she calmed down and was able to speak, she told all of her coworkers about her traumatic childhood. She talked about how most of the boys in grade school bullied her and chased her home everyday. She couldn’t out run them, they would catch her and kick her daily. They always called her names and teased her all because she was different. It took such a toll on her, she confessed to her co-workers about wanting to commit sucide in middle school. Then she talked about one boy who was always nice to her and she pointed to my dad. 

At this point, all of the doctors and my dad were crying. Once everyone calmed down, my dad started the presentation. And from that point forward, my dad could go and visit any of the doctors at any time. All of the doctors were nice to my dad because he was nice to their friend and co-worker. Which is why my dad always says be nice to everyone. 

]]> 2023-05-18 13:48:36 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596297765 Izzy s091625 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596297881 My Abuelo (grandpa) was 18 when he immigrated to the United States from Lagos De Moreno, Jalisco in Mexico. My great grandma and great grandpa immigrated to the United states when they were about 20, they eventually had my Abuela (grandma). This is the stories of my family, how the Atilanos came to the US. 
My great grandparents immigrated to the US from Lagos De Moreno, Jalisco in Mexico, when they were about 20. They came here together, looking for a better future and money. They were starting off with nothing, they had no money and knew no english. They started working in fields picking cotton. They eventually moved from Texas to Rock Falls, Illinois. Then, they had my Abuela. My great grandparents still knew no English, therefore they raised my Abuela speaking Spanish only. When she got to school, she still knew no english. My Abuela had to learn English all on her own, just observing from her peers. 
My abuelo was born and raised in Lagos De Moreno, Jalisco in Mexico. He grew up poor and he always longed for something more. When he was 17, he decided to leave his parents and his 13 brothers and sisters to immigrate to the US. When he was 18, he decided to act on that. He found another Mexican citizen immigrating to the US to catch a ride with. They drove together to the border, ready for a new beginning. When he finally got to the border, he tried so hard to get across. He finally did it, he finally made it to the US. He had put the struggle of getting to the US behind him when he was then faced with the struggle of creating his new life in the US. He had no money and knew no English. Instead of giving up, he stayed strong and started piecing his life together. He started his journey in Texas, working at a junkyard. He then moved to Chicago and started working at a steel factory. He then moved to Rockfalls in 1973 to be near a girl he had met. There he worked for Borgwarmer, the Burlington railroads, a slaughterhouse, a steel mill, a boiler factory, nuclear and electrical plants, and an aluminum factory. Through all of this he got his GED and learned how to live in America in general. He went through an extreme culture shock. The average grocery store in the US didn't have much of the food he was used to eating like they do now. Although he ate whatever he could get, he didn't really know what he was doing. And on top of all that, he had to learn english. He went to the Salvation Army School for Second Languages. Although that did teach him a lot, he mostly learned English from his coworkers. He was extremely strong through all of this, he created an entire life from nothing in a whole new country.  


Let's rewind back to 1971. My abuela was visiting family in Lagos De Moreno when she met my Abuelo. They were both 17 and had a lot in common. They started talking and exchanged phone numbers and addresses. For the next year, they sent each other letters and talked on the phone. When my abuelo went through the process of immigration, they lost contact. This was until my abuelo moved from Texas, to Chicago, to Rockfalls, Illinois. They eventually found each other and started talking again. And after about a year, they got married on November 23, 1974. They were only 19 but they knew they wanted to be together. My Abuela helped my abuelo with his English and they were happy together. A year later, my Tía Gaby was born. My grandparents were only 20 when they had my tía. 2 years later, my mom was born. In the following years, my Tío Adam and Tío Manuel were also born. 
My Abuelo came to the US looking for a new start, and my Abuela gave him that. They built their family from nothing. Through all of the struggle, my abuelo recreated his life, and he did a good job. My abuela still helps people to this day. She has had jobs at schools teaching kids just like her, her parents, and my abuelo learn english. Their bond has stayed strong through 68 years. Along the way they helped others, themselves, and each other. I aspire to be like them, strong like my abuelo, loving like my abuela.


]]> 2023-05-18 13:48:42 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596297881 Hayley s078967 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298774 My dad is the son of a first generation immigrant father.  My dad is 50% Palestinian, and grew up spending much of his time with his father’s side of the family. He was raised with their culture, their language, their music, and their food. He felt very different from other kids growing up because of this. My dad grew up feeling that he had an odd name, which always made him feel uncomfortable, and there were no other Palestinian kids that went to school with him. Despite all of this, my dad was able to create many friendships, and learned how to overcome all the challenges that come along with being different and feeling different. Something that also makes him awesome is that he started his own business when he was 30 years old. He is super hard working, and is very successful with anything he puts his mind to. 
One trait that I think is so amazing about my dad is that he can walk into a room and not know a single person, and be able to make friends right away. He is super kind to everyone, and knows how to make people feel happy, important, and he makes people laugh. He can be tough sometimes, but very sensitive as well. 
People should know my dad’s story to know that it's ok to be different or feel different. People need to be proud and embrace their differences, and can teach others that you can still be a successful person no matter where you are from, or what your background is. Ultimately we are all different, and it is important to make the best of your situation. 



]]> 2023-05-18 13:49:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298774 Adam DeGroot- Malachi's dad. s073676 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298807 Someone you should know.



Someone you should know is my dad. He is my hero in my life. He is the reason why my name is Malachi. My middle name is his name. Malachi Adam DeGroot. I'm proud to have it. It's a special name. As a teenager in high school, he played football all throughout
Highschool. He found his love for woodworking there. He grew up in western springs IL.
He had the same hobbies as me. He loved to drive. He loved to build things. I got my building skills from him. He started his very own construction business as a carpenter.
So he decided in 2006 to start DeGroot Construction Co.  He had many challenges trying to start this business. But he didn't give up and kept going. In the future of DeGroot Construction Co. Hopefully I will take over that business. One day I want to be on that job site working on houses with all of the Degroot brothers. He told me one day. “I’m working really hard to grow this business so that one day you and your brothers can take it over” that really  inspired me to keep growing my knowledge towards being a carpenter. In The Wednesday Wars
Novel by Gary D. Schmidt. They have A special room in the house that nobody can touch. 
It was a room that showed other people what Mr.Hoodhood’s job was all about. It was a room that his customers could look at and think to themselves. “ I think I want that in my house”. So relating to that book. My dad has a special truck that nobody can go inside and nobody can touch it.  He has a 2023 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. He Custom built the inside so he can carry all of his tools inside. It looks like a nice kitchen. But for work. Overall, my Dads story matters because it shows everyone that sometimes you just gotta keep going. 
Because on the other side it will all be worth it.

]]> 2023-05-18 13:49:26 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298807 Samantha🦆 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298829 Sarabeth is in 7th grade, and she’s one of my best friends. Something very traumatic happened just this year, and I would love to share her story. Not just because she’s my best friend, but because she means more than that to me. She’s like a sister. When I found out her mother passed away from cancer, I felt so bad for her. Is she ok? What is she thinking? What can I do to help? Those were all things I thought before I saw her that very day, at school… smiling? How can she be smiling during such a hard time in her life? Then I looked closer, and I saw she was making someone else laugh. Maybe someone who was having a bad day, but before she came over they didn’t look so happy. Now she’s the one making her laugh? It should be the other way around, right? Wrong, because that’s just the person she is. She's always first to think about others, and their feelings. She comes to school everyday with a smile on her face, ready to listen to others. That's another thing I love about her, she is an amazing listener. She also gives great, meaningful advice afterwards. It shows that she cares, and she does. She cares so much about other people that sometimes, I think she forgets to care for herself. She's always lending a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on. So that's what I was for her this year when I met her. We may have just met at the beginning of the year, but it's crazy how fast you can become close with someone. I listen to her. I am her shoulder to cry on whenever and wherever she needs it. Whether it's 3 in the afternoon, or 3 at night, I will always pick up. Because she would.

If you take anything away from this story, from her story, take away the power to be brave, and always carry a smile on your face, with your head held high.

]]> 2023-05-18 13:49:27 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596298829 Jayden https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596299320  My grandpa was born in 1945, Guanajuato, Mexico. He grew up with 8 other siblings, 5 brothers and 3 sisters. When my grandfather was 9 years old, his father was killed in cartel violence. His father was the money maker of the family so his mom had to get a low paying job to support 9 kids. My grandpa was the youngest out of the group, but when he was only 17 his Mom died of a heart attack and was told to move with his uncle to Chicago. It took my Grandpa 2 years to get citizenship, and by then he had only 200 dollars and a beat up car to his name. He went to his uncle's house where in Chicago he met my grandma. My Grandma was born in 1946, somewhere in Mexico her father died at a young age and her mother died in a car crash. Her mother left money for her to move to America, she then decided to move to Chicago because of the very big Mexican culture there. They got married in 1973 and had my Tia that year also. While they lived with my Tia my Grandpa got a job working for the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1983 my Mom was born. My Tia was 10 at this time. Now My Grandpa is 78, Grandma is 76, My Mom is 40, Tia is 50 there are only 5 left in his original family 4 brothers and 1 sister. He has 4 Grandkids My brother My 2 cousins and me and on August 25 My Grandparents will celebrate their 50th anniversary.]]> 2023-05-18 13:49:53 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596299320 Amira s087136 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596301183 Start writing your final story here: Why does this person’s story matter?Jesus 19, died april 2021 due to owing money to his gang leader. He became a drug addict, and alcoholic. He was an amazing person but drugs and alcohol just took over his life. If he had never joined a gang, maybe he would have still been here with us today. His daughter just turned 3 may 12. To this day she still asks where her dad is. The sad thing is she looks exactly like him. Big brown eyes, and light hair. Every time we look at her, we see him. People need to cherish all the time, and moments you have with somebody because you never know when you could unexpectedly lose them. He will always be in our hearts. This year he would’ve turned 21. I wish he would’ve still been here with us, but he is in a better place. 

]]> 2023-05-18 13:51:24 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596301183 Roda s080442 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596302017 The story all started when we first met in first grade. I came to the U.S. in 2011 with my parents when I was only 2. Around 2015, I started first grade at Emerson. In first grade I knew nothing and couldn’t even speak english.(english is my second language) It all happened when I was minding my business outside during recess and then Sydney approached me to play together. When I tried to talk to Sydney, she said that the only word I could say was “bird”.  Because according to Sydney the only word I knew at that time was “bird.” Whenever there was a bird in the sky I'd say “bird.” (even if it was an airplane) From that day on we became best friends. She would help me with school, make new friends together and even help me with english. If I could describe Sydney with one word I would say Patient. Because I know trying to be friends with someone who doesn't speak any English is hard. She truly is there when I need her. What I love most about spending time with Sydney is that we can be ourselves without any judgment. I know that I could always count on Sydney for a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. She truly brings so much joy and light into my life, and I am grateful every single day for her friendship. 

]]> 2023-05-18 13:52:04 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596302017 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596302207 I will be writing about my favorite person lala. 
She has alway been such an inspiration to me and helps me all the time and I help her. We had so much fun together doing crafts, panting, playing games and going on field trips. She would take me and my brother to the zoo, park and sometimes the museum. When me and my brother were homeschooled we would read the bible and spend most the day reading and she would talk about God, she can talk about him all day. I always thought she was an angel the way her words would inspire me. When I went home I would think all not about what it would be like to be an angel. She had the best snacks and she would buy special snacks like moche or boba. I loved it when she would buy toys or snacks.I always loved when she made me feel special and if I was having a bad day all i needed was  a hug from her and everything would be ok. She would always say,”It's all going to be ok trust and believe God.”

]]> 2023-05-18 13:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596302207 Ben s081210 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596304229 The Gobi desert is one of the largest deserts in the world. The person that I am talking about is my great grandpa. When he was a missionary he had to cross the Gobi desert to be a missionary. Before they crossed the desert they had to go across many rivers with the truck .They did not have roads or gas stansions so they had to bring fuel and drive 2000 miles across the desert to get to their destination to teach people about god. They also had a limited amount of water and food. Their trip was hard but they never gave up. And in the end there hard work paid off and they informed people about god .I think that this is a pretty cool so that is why I chose this person. He showed persistence and hard work.

]]> 2023-05-18 13:53:54 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596304229 Chris Pickett https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596307867 My dad, who I am named after, has a pretty cool story that I would like to share. Back in the late 80s my dad started highschool, he was seen as bigger than the other kids and was asked to join the football team. I can imagine my dad questioning “football? I don’t know how to play football.” This is true, he didn’t, he had never played before. But after his dad, who played division one football as a running back, convinced him he should and with his mothers support as well, he did. My dad signed up to play on the freshman team. He was looked at and immediately put on the offensive line because of his height and size in general. My dad enjoyed football, he loved football. So he continued to practice over the off season, and by his sophomore year, he was moved up to varsity. He played on varsity all throughout the rest of high school. And by his junior year he had D2 offers all over, then before committing, his senior year he was a unit and was offered several D1 offers. I don’t really know why he picked Madison University, but he did. But he didn’t really enjoy college football, It was so much work that he didn’t even want to commit to. So by his 3rd year, he quit football and focused more on what he wanted to do. Become a lawyer, And that is what he did. 

]]> 2023-05-18 13:56:38 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596307867 Damari https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596314935  basically in the year 2016 my older cousin had lost his father do to gun violence  And I would like to talk about it and tell you why this is such a great story to hear about 
 My oldest cousin Xavier was around 7 years old when he lost his father. the story is such a sad and good story because even though my cousin lost his father he also got something out it he has everything that his father has left for him and everything he showed him and he as memories and more thing that can't even name and it is still sad and unbearable cuz I've never lost a parent but my cousin has and I'm pretty sure he'll tell anyone that your parents mother father whoever would not want you to still be sad they would say live life be happy.

 And what makes us such a great story to hear about even though my cousin had lost his father before his father had  Passed away his father had taught him a lot of thing his father taught him how to ride a bike do better in math even though my cousin was still going to school his father was smart and good with thing like that and my mom used to say that he would go McDonald's and help  Xavier with his homework

]]> 2023-05-18 14:01:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596314935 Jesse https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596318201 What did the person do that makes them awesome? What traits do they possess that one would admire?
What Magen is an awesome person is she has a lot of energy and is very confident in herself and her relentless lyric booming that she brings. But it’s in her stances. She doesn't just flaunt her sexuality. Also Magen spent time  during thanksgiving 2019 at Houston Food Bank, where she donated $ 15,400 worth of turkeys that were distributed to 1,050 households. In 2020 Magen the stallion became the 1 rapper since Lauryn Hill in 1999 to win a Grammy Award. But music was all was in here bloodline and she was mostly inspired by her mom Holly Thomas and her dad Joseph Pete and if you didn't know her race / ethnicity is African American the reason she is called the “Magne Thee Stallion” is because “as a point of bravado and as a way of acknowledging her stature and physical presence. As a teenager, she grew to five-foot-ten-inches and has always had what she calls a “thick” body. Megan has said that in the South, statuesque women are called "stallions” and fun fact she does not have kids but However, she is a “Dog mom” and she refers to her dogs as her children. Her top songs are Cry baby, WAP, Girl in the hood and Sweetie Pie ft, Dua Lipa. 

]]> 2023-05-18 14:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596318201 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596621326 Roda is so incredibly nice, sassy and smart! I met her in 1st grade when we were on the playground and she was a new student. She didn't speak any English at all and whenever there was something in the sky she would point at it and just say “bird” even if it was not And I would say “not quite, that's an airplane¨ but literally the next year she talked to me she was speaking english! Like perfect english! She was so smart and probably had better grades than me! Everyone wanted to be her friend because she was so kind and perfect. The next year she moved away to Oklahoma but I didn't know she was leaving so I never got to say bye. I always thought about Roda though because we were such close friends. For the next 4 years until 7th grade when we met again during PE class because she moved back to Wheaton! Which I thought was such a coincidence because I was literally thinking about her and how she was doing! We became such close friends again and I'm so glad she came back  and we were able to become as close friends if not closer as we were before. She's always there for me and I tell her all the tea. I'm so glad me and Roda are as close as we are now. ]]> 2023-05-18 18:16:43 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596621326 Dom s080878 https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596666335 Someone who I think everyone should know is my mom. She is my hero and I love her very much. She was born into a very poor family and had to deal with a lot of issues just because she wasn't as fortunate. When she got older she married my dad and they had two kids (one me obviously). We were still very poor almost to the point where they could not even afford food for us so my mom decided to work a full time job. She would never miss a day from work and would get up very early and come back home very late (my dad would too but my mom cared the most). After doing this for so long we were finally able to afford the basic things she quit the job to look after me and my brother and she has still been helping me with everything ever since. That is why she is my hero and I love her more than anyone I have ever known. 

]]> 2023-05-18 19:05:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lauren_pector/mt8cc25rv6or60uv/wish/2596666335