I am often asked why I went to school when I didn’t have to. My answer is always the same: for the food (and the hugs). School wasn’t just a place to learn. It was where I knew I would be fed, and where there were adults who noticed if I was cold, tired, or a bit lost. That mattered more than any lesson I learned that day.

Source: Irish Independent January 31, 2026 17:33 UTC