“Our guest speaker today is Monte.”
Monday morning, 500 kids in a middle school gym, and that’s how the principal introduced the program. Monte stood, walked calmly out to the middle of the floor, turned around, and looked at the audience. I almost expected him to start talking.
If nothing else, we certainly had their attention. I rolled out to join him. “Didn’t expect that, did you?”
The occasion was CAREER DAY. A bunch of generous, inspirational adults from the community donated their time to talk about what’s involved in their jobs, and we wanted the kids to begin the day with a big perspective. So before they headed off to hear about becoming lawyers, police officers, or photographers I asked them a big question.
What’s Your Dream?
For the next few minutes we talked about hope and courage and en-courage, which means sharing courage with someone who needs it. I told a story about a guy who once couldn’t move his wheelchair 10 feet because he thought life was over. But because people didn’t let him give up on himself, that same guy cranked a handcycle the entire length of the Mississippi River. 10 feet to 1500 miles sounds like an impossible dream, but Hope Changes What’s Possible.
I left them with this challenge: If an old, bald guy in a wheelchair can do this, the world can’t wait to see what happens when you follow YOUR dream.
It’s fun talking to a bunch of kids. You can say stuff to them that’s really meant for all of the adults in the room as well.
What’s YOUR dream? The world’s waiting anxiously to see what happens when you follow it.
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There’s an interesting follow-up. The students and staff at this school want to connect to the FREEDOM TOUR by doing a Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the kids at the HOME OF HOPE. How cool is that?
I’m excited because I know about the passion of middle school kids. We’ll certainly appreciate the fundraising, but I see a powerful opportunity to gently increase awareness within the community of students, staff, and parents. We hope they’ll get to know a few of the faces and understand why they’re there. That matters more than dollars.
I showed them these photos. On the left, the hands of the kids and staff at the HOME OF HOPE. On the right, those of the FREEDOM TOUR ’15 team. Perhaps we’ll get similar pics of kids from this school as a symbol that we’re all Together On A Journey Of Hope.
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I found this TED talk in which Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope, explained the current state of domestic sex trafficking. Well worth watching, sharing, and discussing with your kids.
I see you spoke at my old stomping grounds:) Can’t wait to see what the kids do for the home!
It was an incredible morning. I think these kids will do an amazing job of connecting with those kids.