Recently, at high school, a young man was sitting alone at a nearby table. He has a type of learning disability, and later I was informed he has autism. I made eye contact with him and he smiled softly. He was hesitant to reciprocate. He was cautious and nervous. I initiated conversation,intorduced myself and tried to make him feel comfortable. I asked him if he would like to sit with my friends and I at our lunch table, he consented. We took him under our wing, and invited him to be our friend. Being companions has made a significant impact on both of our lives, and really put matters into perspective. This young man may be different in societies eyes, but beneath the surface he has the same interests as anyone else; friendship, love and laughter. We often criticize and judge people based on their appearance. No one is perfect. We should reflect on our lives and be thankful for how fortunate we are, and accept each other for who they are.