eye opener

14-year-old dan (not his real name) was the young man that i interviewed and took pictures of yesterday. his easy going manner and his ability to treasure the simple things in life sets him apart from many of his peers

dan was abandoned by his thai mother after the death of his father when he was only six. "she had to go back to thailand to find work" he tells me nonchalantly, and yet his eyes carry the weight of her absence more than words ever could. after much talking and sharing, he finally spills out his anger and hurt at his abandonment.

and yet, his eyes sparkle when he talks about playing soccer with the rest of his friends at the orphanage, of how he loves riding a bicycle, and how he treasures the evenings when he gets to stay up late on a school night to watch an important soccer match.

too many children these days take simple pleasures for granted. i, for one, have started appreciating the fact that my family will always be here for me.

the same, i've come to realize, cannot be said of everyone.