Life-changing moments seem to strike at the oddest of times. This week, I was reminded of an experience that rocked my 16-year-old world.

It was a crisp fall evening in 1998, and I was refereeing a youth soccer game in Huxley, Iowa for a little extra spending money. After the game, I shook hands with coaches of both teams, and hopped in my pride and joy, the rusty dark blue 1985 Toyota Tercel. I was dreading a night of history assignments as I pulled into Casey’s for gas.

Across the pump from me was the coach from the away team filling. I recognized his son, a player on the team, waiting inside the cab. Here’s how our brief conversation went:

“Hi,” the coach said.

“Hello,” I replied.

“Good game, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, you guys have a good team, it was fun,” I said.

“So, are you from around here then?” the coach asked as the pump clicked saying the tank was full.

“Yeah, out in the country just a few miles from here,” I said.

“Great. Well, thanks for coming out to do the game,” he said and walked in to pay.

“Sure,” I said.

The coach and his son left as I walked in to pay.

I walked inside, and waited in the two-minute line of customers. When I got up to the register I told the cashier I had the gas on pump three and with a dumfounded look on her face she pushed something toward me on the counter. I looked down, and there it was – a five-dollar bill.

“That man said to leave this for you,” The cashier said.

I looked at the money that now seemed to be glowing and then I looked outside; the coach and his son were long gone.

“You’re sure that’s what he said?” I asked in amazement.

“Yeah,” she replied.

I paid for the remaining amount and walked back to my car, beaming. My mind raced as I drove home. Why would someone randomly leave money not even expect a thank you? I couldn’t believe it.

That’s it, Omar? Just five measly bucks?

Yeah. Exactly my point. He didn’t give me a new BMW sports car or an all-expenses paid trip to Europe with all of my friends. He gave me five bucks. But it wasn’t the money.

It was all about the idea behind the act. He gave me the $5 to make a positive impact that I would remember. He didn’t want a thank you or a card, he didn’t even want to know me.

It had such an incredible impact. Until that act of random kindness, it hadn’t really occurred to be that it could happen to a regular person like me.

His reasons remain a mystery to me to this day. There was nothing particularly earth-shattering about the conversation with him, or about the amount of money he gave.

It’s true that people too often associate acts of charity and kindness with large, extravagant gifts. Some people like to donate a huge pile of money and name a building, research complex or the wing of a hospital for themselves, and that’s great. We need that kind of philanthropy too.

But the beautiful part is that you don’t need to drop a few mil to make a difference for someone. It just takes a little creativity, and not even any money.

I’ve heard countless stories of people sending cards, giving a ride, stopping to actually pay attention to people having problems, randomly leaving a big tip, or helping a stranger carry something.

It’s just about being nice to someone because you don’t really have to be.

So the next time you think you can help a person in a small or large way, go for it. You never know when it might happen to you too.

As for the man filling up at Casey’s in Huxley in 1998 who was generous for no particular reason, I just have one thing to say – thanks.

Omar Tesdell is a sophomore in journalism and mass communication from Slater. He is online editor of the Daily.