Just when I begin to think the world is a lost cause -- sorry that's the only way to put it -- I meet someone like Kira Shaw.

Sometimes I wonder if the world is going to make it. By the world, I mean humanity. We get caught up over things that are just not worth it. We just can't seem to learn to get along.

Then comes along someone like Kira and I remember: this whole world we live in is worth it.

Kira was the little girl who was able to have her dream come true. She was a Penn State cheerleader.

She had other options -- meeting Justin Timberlake, swimming with dolphins, or a trip to Disney.

She chose cheerleading on the field at Beaver Stadium.

Because of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, not only was this 12-year-old on the field but she led the Nittany Lions out of the tunnel, took a picture with JoePa, got flowers from Zack Mills and was on national TV.

Many would love to just be on the field.

They might not understand the price Kira paid.

Kira was born with a neuromuscular disorder that forced her to be fed through a tube for the first 2-and-a-half years of her life and go through 15 surgeries.

Kira was, no doubt in my mind, the toughest person on the field Saturday.

The amazing thing was that this physically fragile girl not only made her dreams come true, she gave everyone around her a taste of reality.

And despite the pain, reality is good.

Julie Devaney, a freshman from Boston who was in the stands during the game, is an example of how Kira affects people.

Devaney was at the game with friends who had "Wicked Austin," a tribute to Penn State's freshman running back, painted on their stomachs. They were there for football -- they got life.

"I think [her being here] was the best part of the game," she said. "It's totally awesome."

I've seen people like Kira in action before and they have a gift that cannot be understood, only enjoyed.

One of my best friends, Scott Kryesky, loved to play basketball while we were growing up. We would play one-on-one everyday up to 100 points.

We played because Scott, who was a couple years younger than me, wanted to play. He insisted on playing in jackets and boots when there was snow on the ground.

I'm not good at hoops, but Scott still didn't win any of those games.

Until one day he finally beat me and ran off jumping up and down like he won the NBA Finals.

He started to beat me regularly and became a good ballplayer.

Then he got cancer.

Soon Scott lost his arm and we had to play video games -- in which he dominated me.

One day Scott called me over to play basketball.

I assumed we were going to play video games.

As I crossed the street I heard a ball bouncing.

It was Scott.

He had taught himself to play with one hand.

Scott had won the greatest game in his life.

Sadly, the cancer returned and Scott passed away during my senior year in high school.

Scott and Kira, through overcoming their struggles, can teach us a lot.

Kira had a hug for everyone this weekend.

I saw the way she interacted with the cheerleaders and how they lit up when she was around.

They gave her so much, without knowing Kira might have given them a new perspective on life.

Zack Mills, who graciously met the family after getting tossed around all day by the Boston College defense, showed a small family that he is a winner and one of the classiest guys in college football.

I could hear the awe in her mother's voice when she talked about Kira's will and faith.

Don't think that the only reason we can learn from people like Kira is that they suffer through everyday lives.

What we can learn is that they don't give up.

And that's why the world is a great place and humanity is on the right track.