COVID-19 has me looking through past writing. Sharing an entry from a little over a year ago that made me smile today. To all the coffee girls out there…we see you, we hear you, and we know you’re going to do great things.

Today I was in the elevator of the world trade center holding 9 coffees. So yeah, that’s five in one tray, four in the other stacked on top of one and other. I have carried more coffees than this before. I am literally a professional coffee carrier. Every time I do this balancing act, there are the girls who give me dirty looks. There are the men who scoff, or sometimes someone holds the door for me out of pity. I always dread this part of my day. It makes me want to tell anyone who sees me that I am more than just the coffee girl.

Today I encountered someone new.

He was older – maybe my dad’s age, and we were standing in the elevator together. “That’s pretty impressive,” he told me. “Yeah, I’m like a professional coffee balance-er, it’s kinda my job.” I guess this sounded sarcastic. He responded “Oh no, I didn’t mean it like – ” I cut him off “Of course not, I was just -” he cut me off.

“Just imagine all the folks who have done this balancing act who have gone on to do great things.”

I was choked up. All I could muster as he stepped out of the elevator was “You have a great day sir.” I wanted to tell him how that was the highlight of my day. How I’ll never forget his kind words in a moment of self-doubt. How I will think of him as I set out to change the world. I did take a moment to imagine all the people who have done that balancing act. Who have walked through the dirty looks and crowded hallways. Who have stood and cried on the corner outside their office when they felt directionless. Who have felt the need to tell anyone that looked at them that they are more than just the coffee girl. And finally, I thought of those who have made it through to the other side.

This was a passing moment for that guy, but for me, it will be a moment frozen in time.