The small things

people always say that we should stop and smell the roses, but i didn’t really understand exactly what this meant until i was about 13 years old. my parents had been telling me that i needed to volunteer at the local children’s hospital. i had resisted because i didn’t know what to do or say around all of those sick children. eventually, though, my mother convinced me to talk to the coordinator and find out what i might like doing to out there. when i found out all there was to do there, i quickly signed up. they were letting me come to play video games with the patients there! and, over the next several months i became good friends with emilio, a teenager fighting for his life, who taught me to appreciate the small things life has to offer us.
i’ll never forget walking into that hospital for the first time. i was scared and nervous, and all i could seem to focus on was the smell of antiseptic throughout the halls. i met up with my coordinator who showed me where to go. he took me to a large room in one wing of the hospital. there, most of the patients were young teenagers. some had been there only a few days, while others had been there months. some had their hair, others had lost all of it from their treatments. some were able to get up and move around, while others were too weak to leave their bedrooms. just walking down the hall and seeing all of these sick patients who seemed just like me made me feel very lucky to be healthy. i remember telling myself that i’d never complain about a skinned knee or upset stomach again.
nevertheless, after i was familiar with the area, i went over to the video game station in the recreational room. i got it all set up and waited for someone to play with me. nobody came. everyone just stared at me and wondered what i was doing. i almost left. i felt uncomfortable. within minutes, one of the teenage boys approached me. he said, “if you want someone to play with you, just ask, we don’t bite.” with those words, i asked him to play.
soon, emilio and i had become good friends. we’d play and talk every day. i visited the hospital. on the days i didn’t go, i’d sometimes call to see how he was doing. emilio had his good days and his bad days. on his good days, we would walk around and play jokes on the nurses. on his bad days, we would sit in his room and watch tv together. i know he was glad to have me since his parents both worked and couldn’t come to see him every day.
one day, i was complaining about going to my little sister’s birthday party the following weekend. i told him that the idea of spending a morning out at the town’s duck pond with a bunch of 6 year olds was not something i looked forward to. i’ll never forget how silent the room fell when i told him this. emilio just stared at me. then, i nervously asked, “what? ”
emilio responded, “man, you don’t know how lucky you are to be able to even go outdoors. i’d do anything to be able to spend a morning at the duck pond. and, i would love to hang out with my little brother, even if he is annoying at times. i don’t know what the future holds for me and if i’ll even be around in a year. so, you should appreciate the fact that you can go outside and enjoy your sister’s birthday party.”
with those words i decided not to ever complain about the small things again. and, i decided that i should really enjoy everything i’m able to do—like go outside. i never really realized what a privilege that is.

the third paragraph is well developed. the transition from the previous paragraph is effective, and the paragraph has enough details to give the reader a clear idea of what is happening.

is this statement true or false?