Brennan and Ms. Ann

In a world where negativity seems to dominate the news, it's refreshing to hear about people like Brennan Gould, who spread joy and kindness to others. His story is a shining example of how one small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone's life.

It all started with a “Kindness Week Challenge” given to him by his 8th grade teacher, Ms. Watkins. Little did he know that this challenge would lead to an amazing friendship with 84-year-old Ms. Ann. Brennan's commitment to sending her little goodies every day for a week blossomed into a habit of checking up on her and delivering gifts regularly, long after the challenge was over.

Their friendship has now lasted for over five years, and Brennan still visits Ms. Ann every month with flowers, smoothies, Easter baskets, and more. They talk about everything from his high school life to his college goals - the pair has found that they share a mutual love of chocolate. Ms. Ann is always eager to hear about what he's doing and loves to share her own stories from a different time. They have become the best of friends, with Brennan treating her like an adopted great-grandmother.

"The best thing a teenager can do is befriend someone elderly. I'm so glad our son has added more sunshine to her life. I hope he always remembers the joy he's brought her, and his fun talks with her, keeps his kind heart, and thinks of others. Onward toward year 6!" said Brennan’s mom, Traci.

Ms. Ann's family is grateful for Brennan's friendship, as they cannot always be with her. Brennan's kind heart has brought more sunshine into Ms. Ann's life, and her encouraging words have helped to inspire him in return. Their conversations have become a source of knowledge for Brennan, and he looks forward to each visit with great anticipation.

It's heartwarming to see how one person's kindness can make such a difference in another person's life. Brennan's story reminds us that we can all make a difference in the world, no matter how small the act of kindness may seem and he truly embodies the “Community Contributor” piece of our BCPS Graduate Profile. Let's all take a page out of Brennan's book and strive to make a difference in someone's life today!