A Lesson In Forgiveness

By Cyndi Chin and Stephanie Chin
From issue 3 winter 2006


In November, Steven McDonald spoke to our Science and Technology Magnet classes. He was shot two decades ago by a 15-year-old boy and he forgave him. He still works as a police officer in a wheelchair. McDonald was working as a police officer in Manhattan when he was shot. “I love being a policeman,” said McDonald. He has been a policeman for 20 years and he became one to help others.Steven says that many teen-age boys used to go to Central Park to hurt others. This is a problem Steven and his fellow police officers were trying to address when he was shot. He says that the boys he encountered bought a gun from a guy who told them that it’ll make them powerful. Steven McDonald started to ask them questions. The 15- year-old boy had a gun and he pulled the trigger at McDonald.The boy shot him in the head and then in the throat. The injury left him paralyzed. Many people helped him during the difficult time while he was recovering. He’ll never forget their support. “It was the best time of my life. I changed inside in my heart,” said McDonald. McDonald was brought to the hospital and recovered from his wounds for a year and a half. While he was in the hospital he got a phone call. The call was from the young boy who shot him. The boy called to apologize. He apologized to McDonald’s family and to him. McDonald was able to love him and forgive him and it made him feel good. McDonald and the teen even became friends. “We all make mistakes,” he said. “We are here to love and support each other,” says Mc-Donald. His words were beautifully spoken. In fact, there was complete silence in the auditorium when McDonald spoke. After telling students and staff his story, McDonald read a poem called “You’re Special.” He had also told us that he worked at a woman’s jail. A woman there came up to him and told him she heard him speak at her school. She was sorry that she didn’t listen.At the end of this assembly, some of the students asked McDonald some of their questions. We will never forget this day. We will learn to respect and love each other more. We are all glad that he came and visited our school, I.S.49. We will tell all of our friends about this assembly.