Rick Minniefield
Big Man, Big Heart, Big Smile, Big Life Changes
Professional Speaker & Leadership Consultant
A wake up call: Getting high schooler's attention
I woke up this morning thinking it was going to be just another long day of drama, stress, and none-the-less tiring. Little did I know it would be far from just another ordinary day, but an unexpected lesson was to be learned.
When I arrived to school everyone had been informed
that there was going to be a motivational speaker, addressing the students
during fourth period. The only thing I could think of was, “great
another 50-minute boring speech that I'd more that likely fall asleep
in.”
“ …I wanted to stay longer, because there was so much more I wanted him to say and so much more I wanted to ask.”
Fourth period came a lot quicker than I ever expected and the next thing I knew I was sitting in the gym full of kids yelling, fighting and pushing. I sat down next to my friend Lindsay, and before the speaker was introduced we both gave each other a depressed look.
An African American man, about in his 30s, approached the microphone and was quick to get everyone's attention by a game I played in kindergarten, called Simon Says. It was a good way to get everyone, including myself, engaged. After the game was over we all took a seat and he started to talk about two young kids who made a few bad decisions that would affect their lives forever.
He provided us with a detailed history of how these two boys became involved with alcohol. Ten years later, the two were in a bar having a few drinks. Sometime later they chose to drive home, exceeding the speed limit by 45 mph. They hit a tree and one of them died. The other was left with a lifetime of guilt and pain.
Throughout the story, the young speaker kept saying, “The choices that we make today affect us tomorrow.” I slowly turned my head toward my friend, and witnessed a tear running down her cheek, but only to realize that there were a few tears running down my cheek as well. This man was really hitting home with me and I wanted to stay longer, because there was so much more I wanted him to say and so much more I wanted to ask. I walked out of the gym with all these emotions and thoughts racing through my head. I just wanted to express myself to someone, but instead decided to say nothing.
Time flew by and the day was almost over. I had one period left; I was doing great. I then went into my seventh period class unenthused. When I arrived to class, my math teacher informed the students that we were going to be doing something a little different today. He would award us with ten extra credit points on our next test if we participated in the activity. That quickly caught my attention and I was totally tuned in.
He said that we were going to write about the things
in our life, our dreams and goals, and about what sort of things we need
to achieve in order to get those. Then he asked a question. The question
was, “Why am I taking algebra 1B?” It took me awhile to answer
it, but then my response came easily.
“This man may think that he walked into a room filled with 300 teenagers who ignored every word he said but, for me it was a tremendous lesson of life.”
To us now, it may seem as though this is such a small thing and we think we don't need it, but later on in the big picture we will realize that this was a big part of what helped us get where we're at.
Secondly, he asked us to review our three column paper quickly before we left. I did just that to soon realize that it was easier to write down all the bad things in my life than all the good things. From that moment I made a promise to myself that I would never settle for less than I deserve and would always strive to do my best.
This man may think that he walked into a room filled with 300 teenagers who ignored every word he said but, for me it was a tremendous lesson of life.
I walked into the assembly close minded and very confused
about what was going on in my life, but I walked out inspired. My heart
was ready to achieve anything, and I was ready to make something out of
my life. It's amazing how only a 50 minute speech from a complete stranger
could impact your life, forever.
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