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As part of the healing Zhalarina wanted to write a song about her journey and how Gunny had helped her. She even asked him to perform it with her. “When she said you know, I would like you to do this. I was really blown away,” said Gunny. So they began to collaborate on the song as he guided her through some life challenges. “She wrote the lyrics. But I think they came from the conversations that we had multiple meetings prior to actually beginning to work on the song,” said Gunny. And for the first time recently Gunny performed the song with her in Ybor City.
In the song Zhalarina shares her obstacles. Ultimately realizing it is OK to ask for help. “Gunny is many things— he's been a mentor, he's been a friend, he's been a great teacher. And, he's been an example and a role model and a reminder of the kind of Gunny that I have in God,” explained Zhalarina.
And Gunny is just grateful to have had this positive effect on one of his students years later.
“You can impact somebody's life beyond 50 minutes, five days a week to where here we are 16 years later, she's you know, in her early 30's now, and I met her when she was 15. And we've been in each other's life ever since. And so she's every bit of impactful on me as I've ever been on her,” said Gunny.
If you’d like more information on Zhalarina’s music and performances, click here or here.

https://www.tampabay28.com/news/anchors-report/former-tampa-bay-student-and-teacher-share-bond-that-lasts-16-years