An ordinary hero Hello. My name is Darryl. I am a native English speaker. Consequently, if I see anyone post corrections, I will feel very embarrassed because this is supposed to be perfect. However, I do know that I make mistakes sometimes and seeing corrections is the only way to get better. I love correcting essays. I do not know why it is so fun for me. Perhaps it is because with very little effort from me, I can do something that is very important to another person. It makes me happy to help and when I see someone say "Thank you" I know that they are grateful for my help and I feel very good. Additionally, maybe this is silly, but when I help in this way I feel like the world becomes a better place because we are spending time learning how to understand each other. Especially now, this is important. I have been on Italki for 1 year and I always make time to do corrections. I see people who are struggling, and I want to say, "HERE FRIEND, take my hand and I will help you. I know it is difficult, but you are not very far away from learning this lesson, you are ALMOST!!! there. Just practice a little bit more." Then when they do learn the lesson I want to say, "I am so proud of you, I knew you could do it" and "I see greatness ahead for you" I want to congratulate everyone, many of you are working very hard even though you are very busy. This encourages me too, to try hard, and to be more. I normally come online in the mornings and do 2-3 corrections. Sometimes, if I can I come online later too. Very often, I will check my messages at the end of the day, and I will see people have sent me a message to express their gratitude. I feel overjoyed. Especially when I correct entries from my closest friends on Italki. They come from different countries/cultures: Brazil, Japan, Russia, Vietnam, Spain, Northern Africa, yet I feel so close to them when we speak. I look for people who are friendly, motivated and who are trying to improve their lives. Many of them are very good storytellers. Much better than me. I look forward to reading the essays because when I read, I feel like I am in the story. I will leave my hometown and for a little while it will feel like I am visiting them, seeing their hometown, meeting their friends, working alongside them at their job, playing games with them or I am doing something else that they are describing to me through their words. I cannot describe the unique happiness I get from these "shared experiences". Thank you.