The last two days I had the great opportunity to substitute teach health at our local high school. It just so happened the teacher had a video to show the first day and a guest speaker the second day. The video was powerful. It is call "Surviving High School." It pertained to how we treat each other and the consequences of that treatment. The end of the video dealt with teen suicide.
The second day the guest speaker was sick so I actually had the opportunity to teach!!! So we talked about the video. We discussed eating disorders, depression, hazing people, and suicide. It was a little difficult, but I felt I could really have an impact on these kids if I said the right thing. I am please to say that all 4 classes went well. After getting through all the depressing stuff I talked to them about the difference one person can make. How much a simple smile or "hi" can mean to someone. I felt good about the classes and really hoped that some of kids would get something out of it. As they left the class I challenged them to smile and say hi to someone today that they don't normally talk to. You never know what positive difference you might make in some one's life.
You always wonder if anything you say makes a difference and we seldom find out if it really does. After school a student ran into me and said, "You should be a motivational speaker! You really made some of these kids stop and think." Another one said, "My friends said you are their hero."
Wow, I wasn't expecting that. I would love to be a motivational speaker! How do you get involved with that one? I hope I did make a difference in their lives. Every morning we get up and decide if we are going to have a good day or bad day, if we are going to be happy or sad. Smile and make the world around you a better place. Enjoy what you have and don't fall into the trap of "I will be happy when."
By the way, if anyone has any ideas on how I can become a motivational speaker....let me know.
4 comments:
That sounds like an amazing experience! I too love being able to make an impact on students' lives, and it sounds like you really did! I don't know how you could get into actually doing motivational speaking, but I bet you have to start local, and I know that you would be great at it!
I think you should contact the church educational people for EFY or whatever speaking circuit you might be able to get onto! I have a friend who lost her young husband to cancer last year, leaving her with 5 children under the age of 11. she is getting into the speaking thing. You'd be great and yes, you can touch a lot of people's lives and good can come from bad situations. You're amazing!
Grace, I think you already are a motivational speaker!!
Grace...what a great post.
You always smiled and said HI to me when I was growing up, at camp and as an adult living in K1. And you made me feel so comfortable being your visiting teaching companion.
For speakers... I think you should contact the school district. Tell them about this video you showed the health students and that you are available to come to other schools to show this video, or speak about suicide, depression and having a positive outlook.
Also, you can contact LDS Family Services and ask if you can come speak to some of the girls they work with.
Talking about finding your glass half full, instead of half empty is something the world really needs right now, and you would be a great person to talk about this to people.
Next time you come to Utah, I can arrange for you to speak at Dallin's elementary school.
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