horizons when I first think of the word horizons
horizons
horizons I think of possibilities I think of the
I think of possibilities I think of the
I think of possibilities I think of the things that you can see out in front of
things that you can see out in front of
things that you can see out in front of you that are ready for you to just reach
you that are ready for you to just reach
you that are ready for you to just reach out and grab and as an educator when I
out and grab and as an educator when I
out and grab and as an educator when I think of possibilities I think of kids
think of possibilities I think of kids
think of possibilities I think of kids and I think that each one of us have the
and I think that each one of us have the
and I think that each one of us have the unique opportunity of affecting kids in
unique opportunity of affecting kids in
unique opportunity of affecting kids in a multitude of ways but there are three
a multitude of ways but there are three
a multitude of ways but there are three fundamental things that I believe that
fundamental things that I believe that
fundamental things that I believe that kids deserve and one of those things is
kids deserve and one of those things is
kids deserve and one of those things is men involved in their lives there’s a
men involved in their lives there’s a
men involved in their lives there’s a nationally based program called
nationally based program called
nationally based program called watchdogs and with that program they
watchdogs and with that program they
watchdogs and with that program they seek to be in schools getting men
seek to be in schools getting men
seek to be in schools getting men involved in volunteering their time in
involved in volunteering their time in
involved in volunteering their time in the school system now I’m an elementary
the school system now I’m an elementary
the school system now I’m an elementary principal in a tiny town in Texas in
principal in a tiny town in Texas in
principal in a tiny town in Texas in Navasota Texas and I have about 750 kids
Navasota Texas and I have about 750 kids
Navasota Texas and I have about 750 kids on my campus and we are always seeking
on my campus and we are always seeking
on my campus and we are always seeking to get more men involved in our campus
to get more men involved in our campus
to get more men involved in our campus so we participate in the watchdog
so we participate in the watchdog
so we participate in the watchdog program and my assistant principal and I
program and my assistant principal and I
program and my assistant principal and I set up this big kickoff event we were so
set up this big kickoff event we were so
set up this big kickoff event we were so thrilled we bought pizza because you
thrilled we bought pizza because you
thrilled we bought pizza because you know the saying if you provide food
know the saying if you provide food
know the saying if you provide food people show up so we had tons of pizza
people show up so we had tons of pizza
people show up so we had tons of pizza and we incent out invites we went by
and we incent out invites we went by
and we incent out invites we went by every class we talked to the kids we
every class we talked to the kids we
every class we talked to the kids we advertised online we advertise on our
advertised online we advertise on our
advertised online we advertise on our marquee and with 750 kids we were
marquee and with 750 kids we were
marquee and with 750 kids we were expecting a crowd and we went the
expecting a crowd and we went the
expecting a crowd and we went the kickoff event that night for the
kickoff event that night for the
kickoff event that night for the watchdog’s volunteer program and we had
watchdog’s volunteer program and we had
watchdog’s volunteer program and we had two men show up and it broke me because
two men show up and it broke me because
two men show up and it broke me because I thought what am I missing here why did
I thought what am I missing here why did
I thought what am I missing here why did we not get these men to show up and I
we not get these men to show up and I
we not get these men to show up and I sat down with my assistant principal
sat down with my assistant principal
sat down with my assistant principal Aaron Marvel and I said what are we
Aaron Marvel and I said what are we
Aaron Marvel and I said what are we doing what did we miss and the idea that
doing what did we miss and the idea that
doing what did we miss and the idea that we came to was that the men figured out
we came to was that the men figured out
we came to was that the men figured out what this was that this was just a
what this was that this was just a
what this was that this was just a cattle call to get them to add to be in
cattle call to get them to add to be in
cattle call to get them to add to be in schools more often and our parents
schools more often and our parents
schools more often and our parents aren’t fools they knew what we were
aren’t fools they knew what we were
aren’t fools they knew what we were doing and so we thought thought you know
doing and so we thought thought you know
doing and so we thought thought you know I want to do something more with these
I want to do something more with these
I want to do something more with these men because I know the power of having a
men because I know the power of having a
men because I know the power of having a man involved in your life and I said
man involved in your life and I said
man involved in your life and I said what if we did something different
what if we did something different
what if we did something different because a lot of schools you know
because a lot of schools you know
because a lot of schools you know they’ll do this event like a donuts with
they’ll do this event like a donuts with
they’ll do this event like a donuts with dads type thing and now but our
dads type thing and now but our
dads type thing and now but our facilities weren’t really going to allow
facilities weren’t really going to allow
facilities weren’t really going to allow us to be able to handle that and so I
us to be able to handle that and so I
us to be able to handle that and so I said well let’s do maybe a dinner maybe
said well let’s do maybe a dinner maybe
said well let’s do maybe a dinner maybe we can get some we have some money that
we can get some we have some money that
we can get some we have some money that we can do we can have a dinner that we
we can do we can have a dinner that we
we can do we can have a dinner that we can cater and I said you know but I
can cater and I said you know but I
can cater and I said you know but I really don’t want to call it like a
really don’t want to call it like a
really don’t want to call it like a dinner with dad because a lot of the
dinner with dad because a lot of the
dinner with dad because a lot of the kids that we serve in my community their
kids that we serve in my community their
kids that we serve in my community their birth fathers are not involved in their
birth fathers are not involved in their
birth fathers are not involved in their lives it’s their uncles or their
lives it’s their uncles or their
lives it’s their uncles or their brothers or the gentleman down the road
brothers or the gentleman down the road
brothers or the gentleman down the road or their children our youth pastor and I
or their children our youth pastor and I
or their children our youth pastor and I said I want to make sure that we don’t
said I want to make sure that we don’t
said I want to make sure that we don’t call it something that will limit who
call it something that will limit who
call it something that will limit who shows up and so I thought what if we
shows up and so I thought what if we
shows up and so I thought what if we call it dinner with the gentleman and we
call it dinner with the gentleman and we
call it dinner with the gentleman and we can advertise it as the celebratory
can advertise it as the celebratory
can advertise it as the celebratory moment to have these men show up with no
moment to have these men show up with no
moment to have these men show up with no other expectation other than we want to
other expectation other than we want to
other expectation other than we want to celebrate you for being involved in your
celebrate you for being involved in your
celebrate you for being involved in your child’s life and I said okay you know
child’s life and I said okay you know
child’s life and I said okay you know what we had to show up the first time so
what we had to show up the first time so
what we had to show up the first time so let’s set a reasonable goal here I said
let’s set a reasonable goal here I said
let’s set a reasonable goal here I said let’s do 150 let’s dream big I hope that
let’s do 150 let’s dream big I hope that
let’s do 150 let’s dream big I hope that a hundred and fifty men and children
a hundred and fifty men and children
a hundred and fifty men and children will show up so we sent out these RSVP
will show up so we sent out these RSVP
will show up so we sent out these RSVP cards because we hired a caterer who is
cards because we hired a caterer who is
cards because we hired a caterer who is going to make ribs and all these sides
going to make ribs and all these sides
going to make ribs and all these sides and I thought you know maybe if we offer
and I thought you know maybe if we offer
and I thought you know maybe if we offer ribs instead of pizza we’ll get more men
ribs instead of pizza we’ll get more men
ribs instead of pizza we’ll get more men too and so we sent out the RSVPs and 637
too and so we sent out the RSVPs and 637
too and so we sent out the RSVPs and 637 RSVPs later we had to change our caterer
RSVPs later we had to change our caterer
RSVPs later we had to change our caterer because we could no longer afford ribs
because we could no longer afford ribs
because we could no longer afford ribs and we went with the hamburgers and said
and we went with the hamburgers and said
and we went with the hamburgers and said oh my gosh this is blowing my mind it’s
oh my gosh this is blowing my mind it’s
oh my gosh this is blowing my mind it’s way out of my expectations of what was
way out of my expectations of what was
way out of my expectations of what was going to happen and I said okay we
going to happen and I said okay we
going to happen and I said okay we really got to make this great I don’t
really got to make this great I don’t
really got to make this great I don’t just want to have a dinner so we use
just want to have a dinner so we use
just want to have a dinner so we use some of our extra Scholastic money to
some of our extra Scholastic money to
some of our extra Scholastic money to purchase books for every kid that
purchase books for every kid that
purchase books for every kid that attended so that when they left that
attended so that when they left that
attended so that when they left that event they would have something they
event they would have something they
event they would have something they could take with them to continue the
could take with them to continue the
could take with them to continue the relationship with that man that they
relationship with that man that they
relationship with that man that they brought and that night standing at that
brought and that night standing at that
brought and that night standing at that table of books as the kids walked in and
table of books as the kids walked in and
table of books as the kids walked in and seeing over 580 men and children show up
seeing over 580 men and children show up
seeing over 580 men and children show up it blew my mind I’ve never experienced
it blew my mind I’ve never experienced
it blew my mind I’ve never experienced anything like that before to stand in
anything like that before to stand in
anything like that before to stand in front of a crowd of men who showed up
front of a crowd of men who showed up
front of a crowd of men who showed up for their kids
for their kids
for their kids we had three guest speakers speak we had
we had three guest speakers speak we had
we had three guest speakers speak we had people from all different kinds of walks
people from all different kinds of walks
people from all different kinds of walks of life representing different ethnic
of life representing different ethnic
of life representing different ethnic backgrounds that matched what our men
backgrounds that matched what our men
backgrounds that matched what our men looked like in the crowd and they each
looked like in the crowd and they each
looked like in the crowd and they each spoke for about 3 to 5 minutes with
spoke for about 3 to 5 minutes with
spoke for about 3 to 5 minutes with nothing more than to thank the gentleman
nothing more than to thank the gentleman
nothing more than to thank the gentleman for being there it wasn’t a time to
for being there it wasn’t a time to
for being there it wasn’t a time to lecture them or tell them how they could
lecture them or tell them how they could
lecture them or tell them how they could be a better father or more involved in
be a better father or more involved in
be a better father or more involved in their kids lives it was a time for them
their kids lives it was a time for them
their kids lives it was a time for them to just be uplifted and then we had a
to just be uplifted and then we had a
to just be uplifted and then we had a slide show for the men to see what their
slide show for the men to see what their
slide show for the men to see what their kids were doing at school but my
kids were doing at school but my
kids were doing at school but my favorite part was we had a stew
favorite part was we had a stew
favorite part was we had a stew panel and we had kids from different
panel and we had kids from different
panel and we had kids from different grade levels sitting on the panel and I
grade levels sitting on the panel and I
grade levels sitting on the panel and I remember asking a second grader I said
remember asking a second grader I said
remember asking a second grader I said tell me who you brought to the event
tell me who you brought to the event
tell me who you brought to the event tonight and he said I brought my dad and
tonight and he said I brought my dad and
tonight and he said I brought my dad and I said well why did you bring your dad
I said well why did you bring your dad
I said well why did you bring your dad and he said I’ve never got to do
and he said I’ve never got to do
and he said I’ve never got to do anything with just me and him he’s
anything with just me and him he’s
anything with just me and him he’s always working and he finally took a day
always working and he finally took a day
always working and he finally took a day off to spend time with me and that was
off to spend time with me and that was
off to spend time with me and that was one of those moments where I thought as
one of those moments where I thought as
one of those moments where I thought as an educator this was worth it this was
an educator this was worth it this was
an educator this was worth it this was worth every ounce of effort that we put
worth every ounce of effort that we put
worth every ounce of effort that we put into it
into it
into it it was worth the money that it cost and
it was worth the money that it cost and
it was worth the money that it cost and we just completed our second one this
we just completed our second one this
we just completed our second one this year and had just as great of a crowd
year and had just as great of a crowd
year and had just as great of a crowd that turned out and the kids can’t stop
that turned out and the kids can’t stop
that turned out and the kids can’t stop talking about it now of course I had a
talking about it now of course I had a
talking about it now of course I had a hidden agenda I wanted to get these men
hidden agenda I wanted to get these men
hidden agenda I wanted to get these men involved in our school also after
involved in our school also after
involved in our school also after leaving this event and I’d love to be
leaving this event and I’d love to be
leaving this event and I’d love to be able to say yeah after this event we had
able to say yeah after this event we had
able to say yeah after this event we had somebody come every day for the rest of
somebody come every day for the rest of
somebody come every day for the rest of the year we haven’t yet we’ve gotten
the year we haven’t yet we’ve gotten
the year we haven’t yet we’ve gotten better a gentleman left this event our
better a gentleman left this event our
better a gentleman left this event our first year went and called his work and
first year went and called his work and
first year went and called his work and said I need every Wednesday off for the
said I need every Wednesday off for the
said I need every Wednesday off for the next three years that my kids are at
next three years that my kids are at
next three years that my kids are at this school and he comes and spends one
this school and he comes and spends one
this school and he comes and spends one day a week every single week at our
day a week every single week at our
day a week every single week at our school volunteering in classrooms and
school volunteering in classrooms and
school volunteering in classrooms and spending time with kids he’s been
spending time with kids he’s been
spending time with kids he’s been adopted as our campus dad and we have
adopted as our campus dad and we have
adopted as our campus dad and we have kids that will request him to come on
kids that will request him to come on
kids that will request him to come on the field trip with them before they
the field trip with them before they
the field trip with them before they request their parents that’s the kind of
request their parents that’s the kind of
request their parents that’s the kind of impact you can make and I am such a firm
impact you can make and I am such a firm
impact you can make and I am such a firm believer that it starts with one because
believer that it starts with one because
believer that it starts with one because now we have three men this year who show
now we have three men this year who show
now we have three men this year who show up and help out and we start the ball
up and help out and we start the ball
up and help out and we start the ball rolling and these kids are getting
rolling and these kids are getting
rolling and these kids are getting moments with these men that make a
moments with these men that make a
moments with these men that make a difference in their lives but more than
difference in their lives but more than
difference in their lives but more than just that kids deserve to know that
just that kids deserve to know that
just that kids deserve to know that adults care about them more than just
adults care about them more than just
adults care about them more than just showing up to school and learning about
showing up to school and learning about
showing up to school and learning about something educationally or following
something educationally or following
something educationally or following expectations that you have at home you
expectations that you have at home you
expectations that you have at home you know I talked about us doing the
know I talked about us doing the
know I talked about us doing the watchdog event and how we only had two
watchdog event and how we only had two
watchdog event and how we only had two gentlemen show up well as a school and
gentlemen show up well as a school and
gentlemen show up well as a school and all of you have been to school before
all of you have been to school before
all of you have been to school before you know that they always try to do
you know that they always try to do
you know that they always try to do these events they have math nights and
these events they have math nights and
these events they have math nights and stem nights and reading nights and they
stem nights and reading nights and they
stem nights and reading nights and they try to get parents into the school to
try to get parents into the school to
try to get parents into the school to learn about all these great things and
learn about all these great things and
learn about all these great things and if you work in education you hear a lot
if you work in education you hear a lot
if you work in education you hear a lot of educators complain about what we just
of educators complain about what we just
of educators complain about what we just didn’t get a very big turnout we
didn’t get a very big turnout we
didn’t get a very big turnout we hoping for more what we only had about
hoping for more what we only had about
hoping for more what we only had about this many people show up and I started
this many people show up and I started
this many people show up and I started thinking I thought you know I did a lot
thinking I thought you know I did a lot
thinking I thought you know I did a lot of mission work in my youth and I
of mission work in my youth and I
of mission work in my youth and I started thinking about you know in
started thinking about you know in
started thinking about you know in mission work when you’re in a church you
mission work when you’re in a church you
mission work when you’re in a church you don’t sit in the church and beg people
don’t sit in the church and beg people
don’t sit in the church and beg people to come to you and hope they show up if
to come to you and hope they show up if
to come to you and hope they show up if you send out enough flyers and
you send out enough flyers and
you send out enough flyers and information you go out and serve them
information you go out and serve them
information you go out and serve them and I thought you know my field in
and I thought you know my field in
and I thought you know my field in education why should we be anything
education why should we be anything
education why should we be anything different why shouldn’t we go out and
different why shouldn’t we go out and
different why shouldn’t we go out and serve the community instead of just
serve the community instead of just
serve the community instead of just sitting behind our four walls at our
sitting behind our four walls at our
sitting behind our four walls at our school and I thought about the community
school and I thought about the community
school and I thought about the community that I live in and we have an apartment
that I live in and we have an apartment
that I live in and we have an apartment complex in our community that a large
complex in our community that a large
complex in our community that a large amount of our kids live at it’s also
amount of our kids live at it’s also
amount of our kids live at it’s also where 90% of our discipline problems
where 90% of our discipline problems
where 90% of our discipline problems live it’s where our parents live that
live it’s where our parents live that
live it’s where our parents live that are sometimes hard to get a hold of or
are sometimes hard to get a hold of or
are sometimes hard to get a hold of or their phone numbers change or they work
their phone numbers change or they work
their phone numbers change or they work multiple jobs and they can’t come to the
multiple jobs and they can’t come to the
multiple jobs and they can’t come to the things that we have at the school and I
things that we have at the school and I
things that we have at the school and I said let’s go out to them but I don’t
said let’s go out to them but I don’t
said let’s go out to them but I don’t want to go out to them and pass out
want to go out to them and pass out
want to go out to them and pass out pamphlets or tell them hey here’s some
pamphlets or tell them hey here’s some
pamphlets or tell them hey here’s some ways you can be reading at home your
ways you can be reading at home your
ways you can be reading at home your strategies you can be using to better
strategies you can be using to better
strategies you can be using to better connect with your kids I just want to go
connect with your kids I just want to go
connect with your kids I just want to go out there and serve them and so we
out there and serve them and so we
out there and serve them and so we partnered with our junior high campus
partnered with our junior high campus
partnered with our junior high campus and we went and we work with the local
and we went and we work with the local
and we went and we work with the local meat market and we work with walmart and
meat market and we work with walmart and
meat market and we work with walmart and Sam’s and they donate all these supplies
Sam’s and they donate all these supplies
Sam’s and they donate all these supplies and we go out once to twice a semester
and we go out once to twice a semester
and we go out once to twice a semester and we do hotdogs cookouts and we set up
and we do hotdogs cookouts and we set up
and we do hotdogs cookouts and we set up a big grill right in the middle the
a big grill right in the middle the
a big grill right in the middle the apartment complex and it’s funny because
apartment complex and it’s funny because
apartment complex and it’s funny because when we first get there there’s maybe 10
when we first get there there’s maybe 10
when we first get there there’s maybe 10 15 people out mulling around but once
15 people out mulling around but once
15 people out mulling around but once that grill gets going and the smoke gets
that grill gets going and the smoke gets
that grill gets going and the smoke gets into the air and the smell of hot dogs
into the air and the smell of hot dogs
into the air and the smell of hot dogs come out we serve between 300 to 400
come out we serve between 300 to 400
come out we serve between 300 to 400 people every time that we do it and I
people every time that we do it and I
people every time that we do it and I will tell you we’ve done this seven or
will tell you we’ve done this seven or
will tell you we’ve done this seven or eight times now every single time
eight times now every single time
eight times now every single time somebody will come to the line and say
somebody will come to the line and say
somebody will come to the line and say why are you doing this and my favorite
why are you doing this and my favorite
why are you doing this and my favorite thing to do is just look at them and say
thing to do is just look at them and say
thing to do is just look at them and say because we love you because there’s no
because we love you because there’s no
because we love you because there’s no other reason we want them to know that
other reason we want them to know that
other reason we want them to know that we care about them and their kids more
we care about them and their kids more
we care about them and their kids more than a button a seat or a number on a
than a button a seat or a number on a
than a button a seat or a number on a page because that’s what educators
page because that’s what educators
page because that’s what educators should be doing because you can never
should be doing because you can never
should be doing because you can never reach a child’s head until you’ve
reach a child’s head until you’ve
reach a child’s head until you’ve reached their heart and when we can go
reached their heart and when we can go
reached their heart and when we can go out and serve these communities and I
out and serve these communities and I
out and serve these communities and I love this because my teachers show up
love this because my teachers show up
love this because my teachers show up too and they go play football
too and they go play football
too and they go play football or they sit around in circles and sing
or they sit around in circles and sing
or they sit around in circles and sing with kids or you watch a kid grab a
with kids or you watch a kid grab a
with kids or you watch a kid grab a teacher by the hand and say can I show
teacher by the hand and say can I show
teacher by the hand and say can I show you my room and they get to go out there
you my room and they get to go out there
you my room and they get to go out there I work in a very high poverty area with
I work in a very high poverty area with
I work in a very high poverty area with almost 90% of my kids on a free and
almost 90% of my kids on a free and
almost 90% of my kids on a free and reduced lunch plan when you are an adult
reduced lunch plan when you are an adult
reduced lunch plan when you are an adult working in education there’s three kinds
working in education there’s three kinds
working in education there’s three kinds of ways to think about poverty first of
of ways to think about poverty first of
of ways to think about poverty first of all people hear about poverty and they
all people hear about poverty and they
all people hear about poverty and they think they understand it
think they understand it
think they understand it second of all people see poverty and
second of all people see poverty and
second of all people see poverty and they think they understand it and the
they think they understand it and the
they think they understand it and the third of all is those people who live
third of all is those people who live
third of all is those people who live poverty and the people who live in
poverty and the people who live in
poverty and the people who live in poverty are the only people that will
poverty are the only people that will
poverty are the only people that will ever understand what it’s like to live
ever understand what it’s like to live
ever understand what it’s like to live in poverty but as educators we try to
in poverty but as educators we try to
in poverty but as educators we try to connect with those kids and those
connect with those kids and those
connect with those kids and those families and for a teacher to be able to
families and for a teacher to be able to
families and for a teacher to be able to walk into the home of a child and see
walk into the home of a child and see
walk into the home of a child and see that it’s a one-bedroom apartment that
that it’s a one-bedroom apartment that
that it’s a one-bedroom apartment that 17 people live in with a mattress on the
17 people live in with a mattress on the
17 people live in with a mattress on the floor and when they go to flip the light
floor and when they go to flip the light
floor and when they go to flip the light switch the child says now this is the
switch the child says now this is the
switch the child says now this is the week that it doesn’t turn on there’s one
week that it doesn’t turn on there’s one
week that it doesn’t turn on there’s one week every month that it doesn’t turn on
week every month that it doesn’t turn on
week every month that it doesn’t turn on because we can only pay for three weeks
because we can only pay for three weeks
because we can only pay for three weeks and then you understand why they fell
and then you understand why they fell
and then you understand why they fell asleep in class that next day you
asleep in class that next day you
asleep in class that next day you understand why they’re angry or why they
understand why they’re angry or why they
understand why they’re angry or why they don’t do their homework and you’re able
don’t do their homework and you’re able
don’t do their homework and you’re able to connect with them and be there for
to connect with them and be there for
to connect with them and be there for them in more ways than just teaching
them in more ways than just teaching
them in more ways than just teaching them the standards that the state
them the standards that the state
them the standards that the state requires of us a good friend of mine
requires of us a good friend of mine
requires of us a good friend of mine named Angela Myers started a you matter
named Angela Myers started a you matter
named Angela Myers started a you matter movement and we have taken that as a
movement and we have taken that as a
movement and we have taken that as a school and we work with every kid to
school and we work with every kid to
school and we work with every kid to make sure that every single person that
make sure that every single person that
make sure that every single person that walks within our building and leaves our
walks within our building and leaves our
walks within our building and leaves our building leaves feeling that they have
building leaves feeling that they have
building leaves feeling that they have Worth that they are valued that they are
Worth that they are valued that they are
Worth that they are valued that they are important and that they have a genius
important and that they have a genius
important and that they have a genius that they bring to this world I believe
that they bring to this world I believe
that they bring to this world I believe the third thing that kids deserve is a
the third thing that kids deserve is a
the third thing that kids deserve is a cheerleader somebody who will cheer them
cheerleader somebody who will cheer them
cheerleader somebody who will cheer them on I grew up with a great family who was
on I grew up with a great family who was
on I grew up with a great family who was always supportive of me they always
always supportive of me they always
always supportive of me they always encouraged me to do great things there
encouraged me to do great things there
encouraged me to do great things there was one person in my family who I always
was one person in my family who I always
was one person in my family who I always had as my cheerleader
had as my cheerleader
had as my cheerleader and that was my grandmother I remember
and that was my grandmother I remember
and that was my grandmother I remember standing at her kitchen counter with her
standing at her kitchen counter with her
standing at her kitchen counter with her recipe book open and her teaching me how
recipe book open and her teaching me how
recipe book open and her teaching me how to crack an egg and how to cook waffles
to crack an egg and how to cook waffles
to crack an egg and how to cook waffles and sometimes we got baking soda mixed
and sometimes we got baking soda mixed
and sometimes we got baking soda mixed up with baking powder and messed up the
up with baking powder and messed up the
up with baking powder and messed up the whole recipe but we still had fun and
whole recipe but we still had fun and
whole recipe but we still had fun and got messy together I remember my
got messy together I remember my
got messy together I remember my grandmother helped me fall in love with
grandmother helped me fall in love with
grandmother helped me fall in love with reading I did hated reading until I was
reading I did hated reading until I was
reading I did hated reading until I was in sixth grade and I found the Animorphs
in sixth grade and I found the Animorphs
in sixth grade and I found the Animorphs book series and I have every one of them
book series and I have every one of them
book series and I have every one of them still on my shelf at home and she had me
still on my shelf at home and she had me
still on my shelf at home and she had me keep an index card box and she said
keep an index card box and she said
keep an index card box and she said every time that you read a book I want
every time that you read a book I want
every time that you read a book I want you to write what the book is what it
you to write what the book is what it
you to write what the book is what it was about and what your favorite part
was about and what your favorite part
was about and what your favorite part was and put it in this box and when you
was and put it in this box and when you
was and put it in this box and when you come visit me you’re going to get a
come visit me you’re going to get a
come visit me you’re going to get a quarter for every book you read and then
quarter for every book you read and then
quarter for every book you read and then I would go and we would get all the
I would go and we would get all the
I would go and we would get all the quarters we would go and buy another
quarters we would go and buy another
quarters we would go and buy another book as I got into high school in
book as I got into high school in
book as I got into high school in college and I started getting some
college and I started getting some
college and I started getting some recognition for some things my
recognition for some things my
recognition for some things my grandmother made me send her every
grandmother made me send her every
grandmother made me send her every newspaper article that I was in and I
newspaper article that I was in and I
newspaper article that I was in and I thought you know it’s grandma she’s just
thought you know it’s grandma she’s just
thought you know it’s grandma she’s just collecting them when I would go and
collecting them when I would go and
collecting them when I would go and visit her she would embarrass me every
visit her she would embarrass me every
visit her she would embarrass me every time in public because she had those
time in public because she had those
time in public because she had those newspaper articles in her purse and she
newspaper articles in her purse and she
newspaper articles in her purse and she would pull them out when we would go
would pull them out when we would go
would pull them out when we would go places and say this is my grandson do
places and say this is my grandson do
places and say this is my grandson do you know who he is he’s been in the
you know who he is he’s been in the
you know who he is he’s been in the paper he did this and it was so
paper he did this and it was so
paper he did this and it was so embarrassing and I look back on it now
embarrassing and I look back on it now
embarrassing and I look back on it now and I think that just made me feel so
and I think that just made me feel so
and I think that just made me feel so special in the midst of my embarrassment
special in the midst of my embarrassment
special in the midst of my embarrassment my grandmother was the strongest person
my grandmother was the strongest person
my grandmother was the strongest person I’ve ever known I adored her and my
I’ve ever known I adored her and my
I’ve ever known I adored her and my fifth year of teaching she found out
fifth year of teaching she found out
fifth year of teaching she found out that she had pancreatic cancer and I
that she had pancreatic cancer and I
that she had pancreatic cancer and I watched the strongest woman I know my
watched the strongest woman I know my
watched the strongest woman I know my cheerleader battle a terrible disease
cheerleader battle a terrible disease
cheerleader battle a terrible disease and I remember my grandfather calling me
and I remember my grandfather calling me
and I remember my grandfather calling me about a year and a half of her battling
about a year and a half of her battling
about a year and a half of her battling it and said we took her to the hospital
it and said we took her to the hospital
it and said we took her to the hospital she stopped eating she stopped taking
she stopped eating she stopped taking
she stopped eating she stopped taking her meds she’s done he said she hasn’t
her meds she’s done he said she hasn’t
her meds she’s done he said she hasn’t talked to anybody for a couple days you
talked to anybody for a couple days you
talked to anybody for a couple days you might want to come and specie her and I
might want to come and specie her and I
might want to come and specie her and I showed up at the hospital that day and I
showed up at the hospital that day and I
showed up at the hospital that day and I remember it clear as
remember it clear as
remember it clear as a just sitting next to my grandmother
a just sitting next to my grandmother
a just sitting next to my grandmother holding her hand
holding her hand
holding her hand seeing my cheerleader the strongest
seeing my cheerleader the strongest
seeing my cheerleader the strongest person I knew this frail body in a bed
person I knew this frail body in a bed
person I knew this frail body in a bed and after sitting with her for about an
and after sitting with her for about an
and after sitting with her for about an hour hour and a half I leaned down and I
hour hour and a half I leaned down and I
hour hour and a half I leaned down and I hugged her you know forever remember
hugged her you know forever remember
hugged her you know forever remember that she said I love you I was so proud
that she said I love you I was so proud
that she said I love you I was so proud of you I left the hospital that day and
of you I left the hospital that day and
of you I left the hospital that day and I got a call a couple days later from my
I got a call a couple days later from my
I got a call a couple days later from my grandfather that she passed every single
grandfather that she passed every single
grandfather that she passed every single time something great happens in my life
time something great happens in my life
time something great happens in my life I pick up my phone and she’s still the
I pick up my phone and she’s still the
I pick up my phone and she’s still the first person I want to call and I catch
first person I want to call and I catch
first person I want to call and I catch myself because I realize she’s not going
myself because I realize she’s not going
myself because I realize she’s not going to be on the other end but I think about
to be on the other end but I think about
to be on the other end but I think about the power that this one person had in my
the power that this one person had in my
the power that this one person had in my life
life
life and the power that each of us holds to
and the power that each of us holds to
and the power that each of us holds to be able to be that cheerleader for
be able to be that cheerleader for
be able to be that cheerleader for someone I work in education so I get the
someone I work in education so I get the
someone I work in education so I get the ability to do that with kids every day
ability to do that with kids every day
ability to do that with kids every day but every one of us comes in contact
but every one of us comes in contact
but every one of us comes in contact with people that we can be their
with people that we can be their
with people that we can be their cheerleaders and we can celebrate them
cheerleaders and we can celebrate them
cheerleaders and we can celebrate them and remind them that they have Worth
and remind them that they have Worth
and remind them that they have Worth they are valuable that they are
they are valuable that they are
they are valuable that they are important yes our kids deserve it but we
important yes our kids deserve it but we
important yes our kids deserve it but we all deserve to feel that way and when I
all deserve to feel that way and when I
all deserve to feel that way and when I think about the theme of horizons and
think about the theme of horizons and
think about the theme of horizons and what’s out there and what we can see in
what’s out there and what we can see in
what’s out there and what we can see in the possibilities when we take those
the possibilities when we take those
the possibilities when we take those moments to encourage each other it
moments to encourage each other it
moments to encourage each other it expands our horizons more than we ever
expands our horizons more than we ever
expands our horizons more than we ever imagined possible thank
imagined possible thank
imagined possible thank you
”
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