Have you ever had a strange, funny or memorable chance encounter?
Maybe you bumped into a friend or a stranger at a candy store, in a skate park, in a classroom or online, like in a video game chat?
In “Then I Felt a Tap on My Shoulder,” Grace Kim writes about an unexpected interaction with a stranger at a bus stop after a breakup with her boyfriend earlier in the day.
Students, click through and read the entire story, then tell us:
Have you ever had a memorable encounter in your city or community that surprised, delighted or inspired you? If so, tell us about it.
What did you learn from your chance meeting? What do you think the experience says about human nature, the world we live in or the place where you live?
What is your reaction to Ms. Kim’s story? What does reading the story make you think or feel? Does it relate to your life in any way?
Ms. Kim’s story ends with the older man sharing kind and comforting words with the narrator. Do you wish more people showed kindness to strangers? Do you think the world would be a better place if they did?
Visit the Metropolitan Diary column to read more examples of these short reader tales from the city.
Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.
