Impact: Part Three

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; 

courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

--Winston Churchill

Speak, but listen more. 

Remember that though kids listen to what we say,

our facial expressions with listening ears and hearts are valued more.

Impact: Part Three

People that my student admire...

Impact: Part Three

Luis (friend): Luis tells me to be strong in life.  He has taught me that you can go through times in your life that are rough and still stand back up.  Plus, he encourages me to stand up to people that are just “dream crushers”.

Uncle Robby: He means a lot to me because when I would go to family reunions I knew that he would be there and it was going to be fun.

Jake (step-brother): He showed me that it doesn’t take 50 years to become the manager of the Hawaiian Pepsi Company.  He has taught me humor, weirdness, and awesomeness.

Kyle (brother): I always get excited when he visits us on breaks.  He has always cheered me on and is still always fun to play with.

Nikki (cousin): Nikki calls me her twin sister and I feel the same.  She’s a volleyball coach and made me love to play too.

Uncle Caesar: He made everything better because he always acted wild and crazy, but also calm at the same time.  Also, my uncle always taught me to take risks.

Dad:  My dad means so much to me.  He’s the one who makes sure I have food on my plate, a warm bed to sleep in, and a roof over my head.  My dad always taught me to be respectful and do my best.

  

Dad: he pushes me to do stuff that I didn’t think that I could do.

Anthony (Older brother):  My mom met his dad when I was 2 and he was 3.  He shows me courage because he wasn’t supposed to get diabetes until 11 or 12 years old, but he got it and had to manage it at 7.

Ms. Moore (4th grade teacher):  She was the best teacher and we always had a good time together.  She gave me advice about things too.

My Dad:  My dad is my rock, the person I know can cheer me up when I’m down.  He taught me to see the brighter side of things and to not hang my head.  Without him I would be lost.

Aunt Carina: She means a lot to me.  She has 7 kids and is tough and strong.  She impacts me by reminding me that whatever happens to you, tough it out, fight through, and think the best of things.

My Dad:  My dad has taught me that family comes first and that nothing has to drag you down.

Ashlynne:  She means a lot to me because she was the only one who didn’t abandon me for my “mean” exterior.  She taught me to laugh more, to not care what people thought, and to be awesome.

Levi (Step-dad):  Whenever we’re going to the beach or camping, Levi always finds a way to make it way more fun.  For example, he will make baskets from long grass, or something.  He has impacted my life by always being able to make me laugh.

 

Grandpa Richard:  My grandpa to me meant that we were going to have a fun time.  He also taught me that anything is possible.

Sister:  She means everything to me…yeah, we fight, but without her I’d be clueless.  She taught me how to play soccer.  We would play in the backyard, and she’d teach me new tricks.  Someday I want to be just like her.

Mr. Camp:  If he was not teaching and there was a sub, I would be sad.  If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t know how to read.

Mrs. Elliot (2nd grade teacher):  My teacher means challenges…for when I went to school she was always there giving me a new challenge.  She has impacted my life greatly!  She was the reason I now LOVE math and reading.  I succeed because of her.

Stand up

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The other day I stood in awe of one of my students.

It isn't often that I see a kid that is self-confident enough to stand up for what they believe.

 Especially in middle school.

So when I have a student that not only says what they believe,

but approaches others in the hope to change their mind, I stand in awe.

The other day, a 6^th grade girl overheard a group of 8^th grade girls talking about how mean and vicious pit bull dogs are.  She was much smaller than the 8^th graders and determined.

I saw her stand up quickly and march over to that group.

She was already sharing her opinions as she approached.

“Pit bulls aren't mean or vicious! It’s their owners who don’t train them well or treat them badly.  No dog starts out life mean, it’s what humans do to the animals that make them react in different ways.  Treat them with kindness and they will be kind.  Animals only do what they need to protect themselves. That’s just nature.”

I stood in awe.

Proud to know that there will always be people of all ages using their voices to help animals.

 

I was not that kid.

I wanted to be, but I wasn't.

Instead I was the kid, who stood by, shocked at what was happening, but too scared to step out.

It wasn't until I was much older…a senior in high school, that I was brave enough.

Not completely brave to stand up to a group, but brave enough to stand up for one.

One dog.

That was the year that I found my first rescue…Quincy.

He was a little 10 month old puppy that my dad told me about.

The dog had been living at a welding company,
a forgotten and unwanted birthday gift to the owner’s son.

Instead of taking care of the pup, they left it there.

The workers feed him and gave him water, but on the weekends…he was alone.

Very alone.

Living in a concrete cell, a shed.

No light, no grass, no love.

My dad didn't have to tell me much about him.

My heart ached for him before I even knew him,
and the moment I saw him, he had to be mine.

He was a little mud-covered pup,
who sat at my feet begging to be love.

I looked him over and knew that day was going
to be the last day he needed to beg for love from me.

For the next 16 years he was my constant companion.

He was my heart.

I’m thankful that I was strong enough to stand up to the old,
grumpy man that day and take the puppy with me.

I’m glad that Quincy wasn't going to live around him anymore.

That he would be kicked or hit or left alone without human contact.

He would be loved.

And he was, until the last moment of life and in my heart forever.

Every dog should have such a life.

So now, I stand in awe.

I wished that I had the strength of this little girl.

She wasn't afraid.

She believed in what she said, and she was right.

That strength from someone so young,
makes my heart soar.

I hope for a day when all animals will be loved.

The day when people won’t abuse,
Instead love will be the prevalent response to others.

But until that day,
I will have hope in our future generations.

Kids are strong in their opinions.

They stand up for injustice and have the strength to change in ideas of others.

They’re cool like that.