Jimmy V Week

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” 

                                Jimmy Valvano, 1993 – announcing the Jimmy V Foundation

November 30 - December 9 is Jimmy V week on ESPN.  You may not know who Jimmy Valvano was, but if you have had the misfortune of knowing someone afflicted with cancer, the odds are he and his life’s mission impacted your life. 

Jimmy Valvano was a successful basketball coach, commentator, and author.  He was a person of strong conviction and personal drive.  At an early age he pulled out white index cards and began to write down his personal goals for life.  He wanted to play high school and college basketball, he wanted to become an assistant coach, go on to become a head coach, cut down the nets in Madison Square Garden and win a National Championship.  At age 36, he was able to pull out those cards and cross off every item on the list.  Throughout his life he developed a personal philosophy which allowed an ordinary man to accomplish the extraordinary.  He was commented, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  It is up to you to decide what to do with them.”  Jimmy V chose to cherish and make the most of each one. 

After accomplishing his goals on the basketball court, he explored new directions from writing to commentating.  He was not interested in limiting himself to a single profession.  He embraced diversity in his life and his interests.

In 1993, Jimmy Valvano was given an obstacle that would prove to be his most difficult.  He was diagnosed with cancer.  The cancer proved to be too much for him to personally overcome, but through his vision and passion he has inspired and continues to inspire funding for education and research to cure cancer.  At the time of his diagnosis, cancer was an underfunded and devastating disease.  His charismatic and infectious attitude towards life and easy appeal to people made him an ideal person to raise the awareness of cancer and its impacts on our world and to raise arms to find a way to cure cancer.  While no cure has been found, through continued research many forms of treatment have been developed.  The Jimmy V Foundation has risen over $100 million in the past 20 years to fund cancer awareness and research. 

Jimmy V is an inspiring person.  His attitude towards life, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles is something to admire.   

Below is a video clip from the 1993 ESPY awards when he received the Arthur Ashe award for Courage.  During his speech he announces the Jimmy V Foundation.  This is a must see!!!

Below are the highlights from the 1983 National Championship.  It was one of the most exciting endings the tournament has ever seen.

What do you think of Jimmy Valvano, his life and his mission? If I gave you five index cards to write down your goals and dreams for your life, what would you write down?  

Veteran's Day 2016

November 11 is Veteran’s Day in the United States.  It is a day to remember the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the American way of life.  Through the years these individuals have put their safety and well-being in jeopardy in the name of freedom, liberty, and justice.  We owe all former and current members of our armed services a great deal of gratitude.

Whether or not you agree with the involvement of our military around the world, the support of our troops is necessary.  It is not the soldier who decides where to go, they take orders.  They go where they are needed and where they are asked to go.  It is a difficult life.  In addition to risking their life, they are often separated from their families for months on end.  They give up the comforts of Saturday afternoon football games, microwave popcorn, and a nice fireplace in exchange for tents in the middle of the desert.

It is fitting we dedicate a day during the year to remember those brave men and women who truly understand what it means to be called to duty.

What are your thoughts on Veteran’s Day?  What ways can you personally honor our veterans and current military members?  What do you think life would be like in the armed services today?

Inside the Actor's Studio

There are so many TV channels and shows on these days it is hard to keep track of them all. On occasion I find an interesting show. I have been known to get caught up in watching "Inside the Actor's Studio" hosted by James Lipton. He has actors on his show in front of a group of acting students to review their career's ups and downs. Depending on the actor it can be a trip down memory lane.

One of the most interesting segments comes at the end when Mr. Lipton asks them a series of questions which require them to give the audience a glimpse of their true selves. I like the questions so much, I thought I would ask you some of them to share with everyone. 

For your comment please respond to the following:

1. What is your favorite word?

2. What is your least favorite word?

3. What inspires creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

5. What sound or noise do you love?

6. What sound or noise do you hate?

7. What profession would you like to attempt?

8. What profession would you not like to do?
9. When you get to Heaven, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Cyberbullying

Last week, two Florida girls, ages 12 & 14, were arrested on felony charges of taunting and bullying after a 12 year old Florida girls committed suicide.  This is a sad realty in our world today.  Bullying is no longer happening face to face.  It is happening everywhere we have access to the internet and at all hours of the day.  For a victim it is difficult to escape or find refuge when the attacks are happening even when you should be in the safety of your own home.

Rebecca Sedwick committed suicide by jumping from an abandoned cement factory tower in Lakeland, FL on September 9^th.  She had been a victim of bullying by at least 15 other girls utilizing

on-line social networking sites such as Ask.fm, Instagram, Kik, and Voxer. 

For parents, schools and students this is a difficult evolution.  According to a 2016 study, 26% of teens state they are the subject of regular cyberbullying, while 40% admit to be on one side or the other over the past year. It is difficult for parents to keep up with the latest trends in social networking. It seems many of us just figured out Facebook only to have to new application such as Instagram or Ask.fm become the application of choice.

The situation is even more complicated by other trends evident especially today. Whether it be the election or immigration or Colin Kaepernick, it is so easy to find hate filled speech tearing everyone apart for their ideas. The action modeled by adults is not consistent with the message to stop cyberbullying with our children and students. 

We are living in a digital age and the responsibilities of parents, schools, and children have changed.  We have to educate our children about the proper etiquette for using social networking.  As parents we have to be open and honest with our children and have to be willing to learn about new technology and be willing to check on our kids.  It is fine line between protecting our children and respecting their privacy. 

In addition to parents having more responsibilities, so do you students.  Here are some tips on how to prevent and stop cyberbullying:

·         Make sure if you are members of social networking sites, protect yourself by using the security features (for example, make your profile private if you are on Instagram)

·         Never accept a “friendship” request unless you know the person

·         Refuse to pass on cyberbullying messages

·         Tell friends or others to stop

·         Block communication with cyberbullies, delete messages without reading them

·         Never post or share personal information online including full name, parents’ names, address

·         Never share internet passwords with anyone

·         Never put anything online you wouldn’t want your classmates to see

·         Do not send messages when you are angry or upset

·         Always be as polite online as if you were in person

If you are a victim of cyberbullying or become aware of cyberbullying, you need to ask for help.  Find a

teacher or trusted adult and ask for assistance.

How many different social networking sites do you belong to?  Have you ever witnessed acts of cyberbullying?  Besides the suggestions I provided, what are steps you believe would be helpful to stopping this behavior?

Teacher Day - Confucius

September 28 is a Confucian Holiday celebrating the birth of Confucius. It is also celebrated as Teachers' Day. While many confuse Confucius ism with a religion, it is actually more of a philosophy. Confucius was not a priest or a deity, he was a teacher.

Confucius was born around 551 BC in the small state of Lu. He was born into an aristocratic family, although there is debate as to whether he had any money or not. During his life he served many influential people and his teachings became not only fundamental to Confucian philosophy, but to the general Chinese philosophy.

The 6th century BC China was a bad time politically and socially in China. Leaders had lost their way.  There was a greater emphasis on the people serving the leader instead of being there to support the people and grow a strong community.   Ethics and integrity meant little to the leaders of the time. Confucius was disgusted by this development. At the time, he was a widely unknown teacher. He attempted to revive society by re-introducing the great moral teachings of the past.

At the cornerstone of his teachings was the belief that ethical considerations should be the guiding principle of government. He did not accept the idea of a strict legal system. He believed the primary task of a ruler was to promote the welfare and happiness of the people. The ruler should be a role model, his behavior should be better than everyone else. The leader’s strong ethical behaviors would influence the people's behaviors. Customs and voluntary adherence would be the best way to achieve and maintain an orderly society. Furthermore, he believed leadership should be given to the educated, not the noble. 

Confucius never wrote many of the quotations we see today. After his death, many of his disciples gathered and compiled his teachings. Here are a few quotations:

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."

"Forget injuries, never forget kindness."

"He who will not economize will have to agonize."

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

"Respect yourself and others will respect you."

Throughout history, we have seen many teachers influence the world. Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, and Confucius have significantly changed the world and redefined the way many of us view right from wrong.

Who are the teachers in your life that have influenced you the most and how have they influenced you? What life lesson have you gathered from an effective and influential teacher? What is the wisest or most influential quote you have ever heard from a teacher? 

Travis Rudolph and Bo Paske

In our crazy world it often seems we cannot find those special acts of kindness that demonstrate the exceedingly generous human spirit we each possess. If we watch the news or troll through social media, we all too often witness quite the opposite. Our news is littered with political rants, divisive actions by so-called leaders, and acts of violence committed all over the world.

That is absolutely not the case with the story I am going to share with you.

Earlier this month, football players from Florida State were asked to visit a local middle school in Tallahassee, FL. The players arrived at lunch time and were to mingle with the students. This was the moment that would dramatically change the lives of two individuals and hopefully enlighten and inspire people all over the world.

Travis Rudolph, a junior wide receiver for the Seminoles, entered the lunch room and saw a young boy sitting by himself eating his lunch. That boy was Bo Paske. Unknown to Travis at the time, Bo was diagnosed with Autism many years ago. All Travis knew was that he was alone. Travis approach the table and asked Bo if he could join him. The two sat and enjoyed a conversation and a meal.

The resource officer at the school took a picture of the two and sent the photo to Bo's mother. In addition to being relieved to know today her son was not eating alone, she posted the picture to Facebook. The picture and the story quickly went viral.

The relationship between the two did not stop there. Travis was able to return not too soon after with a jersey for Bo and tickets to last Saturdays game. Travis and Bo have received a significant amount of media coverage from the event, even though ironically that was never the intent.

Below is a follow up story I watched on ESPN. Please take a moment to watch the video.

Why do you think we do not see more news like this in our world today? Should we be?  What lessons do you take away from this story? What can we do to be more aware of others? 

September 11th - 15 Years Later

This Sunday marks the 15^th anniversary of one of the most tragic days in modern American history.  While the day began as any other day, it would end with images and stories of unfathomable death and destruction.  It was a day no one saw coming and no one will ever forget.

While truly tragic, it was also a day which demonstrated the incredible will and strength of the human spirit.  There were as many stories of heroism as there was destruction.  We witnessed countless acts of bravery and selflessness.  And these are only the stories we know.  Many of the incredible stories forever died with the victims.

The following is a brief timeline of the day’s events.

At 8:45 am, the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.  The crash instantly killed hundreds of innocent people and trapped hundreds more above the 110^th floor.  While emergency crews sprang into action, a mere 18 minutes later, a second plane crashed into the South Tower.  It was evident to all, this was not a coincidence, the United States was under attack. 

At 9:45 am, a third plane crashed into the Pentagon.  The jet fuel caused a devastating fire causing a small structural collapse. 

15 minutes after the Pentagon crash, the South Tower collapsed.  It was less than one hour from the time the plane crashed into the building to when it fell to the ground.

 At 10:10, the country became aware of a fourth plane wreck.  United Flight 93 had left the Newark airport late.  40 minutes after departure, terrorists took control of the plane.  The passengers on the plane, aware of the events of New York and Washington, decided to take action.  They overtook the terrorist and in the process crashed the plane into a Pennsylvanian field.  All aboard were killed instantly.

At 10:30, the inevitable occurred.  The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.  While the nation watched in awe, the brave firefighters, police officers and other city officials continued to respond to their call to duty.  Due to the devastation created when the Twin Towers collapsed, four other building would fall to the ground during the day. 

As the day concluded we began to hear the devastating carnage from the day.  In New York City approximately 3,000 people were killed, including 343 firefighter and paramedics, 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority officers.  In Washington, DC, 125 military personnel and civilians were killed at the Pentagon in addition to the 64 people on board the flight.  An additional 45 people were killed in the Pennsylvanian field from Flight 93.

What do you know about the events of September 11^th?   Do you think this is a day of tragedy or triumph for the United States?  After the events of the day, the country promised to "Never Forget". Do you think the country does enough to make sure the victims and sacrifices of 9/11 are not ever forgotten? What else could be done? 

Rio Olympics

Sunday was the closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics games. While there was significant controversy leading up to the games, it is fair to say that the games brought some very memorable moments to the Olympics and the United States.

During the 16 days of competition, over 11,000 athletes from 207 Olympics committees competed in 42 different sporting disciplines with 306 medal groups up for grabs. This year was the first time athletes from the South Sudan, Kosovo as well as a Refugee team competed. The United States had 554 athletes representing our country. Of the 554 athletes, 292 or 53% were women, the most of any delegation. The women of the United States captured 27 of the 42 gold medals and 61 of the 121 total medals for the United States.

We were able to witness some remarkable performances by athletes.

Simone Biles - US Gymnast was the first person ever to capture 4 gold medals in the sport. She took gold as part of the US gymnastic team as well as individual gold medals in the overall competition, the floor exercise, and the vault. In addition she received a bronze medal for her beam performance.

Michael Phelps - Wrapping up his career as perhaps the greatest
Olympic swimmer ever. Phelps captured 5 gold medals and one silver. This brings his total to 23 gold and 28 total medals. This is the most of any athlete ever. The next closest is at 18 medals.

Kristin Armstrong - Kristin Armstrong took her third gold medal in the women's individual time trials. She captured her gold medal in Rio the day before her birthday. She received a cake from the Today show the morning after her victory. Not to mention, she is a Boise native.

Abbey D'Agostino and Nikki Hamblin - You may not know their names, but you may no their actions. D'Agostino (US) and Hamblin (New Zealand) were running in the women's 5000m race when they tripped over another runner. After returning to her feet, D'Agostino find Hamblin, helps her to her feet, and encourages her to finish the race. D'Agostino was injured in the fall, but with the encouragement of Hamblin, finished the race. The moment captured to true spirit of the Olympics and the spirit of competition. Even though they were out of the competition, they were both awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal, which has only been awarded 17 times in the history of the Olympics, for demonstrating the true spirit of the Olympics.

These are only a few moments of greatness. I could have easily referenced a number of others including Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt, Brazil's men's soccer team and countless others. The Olympics can bring out the best in all of us.

Did you watch the Olympics? Why or why not? What was your favorite moment? This year they added rugby sevens and golf to the games. What sports would you like to see added for the 2020 Tokyo Games?

Hurricane Katrina

10 years ago the United States experienced the most costly and one of the most lethal natural disasters in history when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast and the City of New Orleans.  Between the dates of August 23^rd and August 31^st, 2005, the world watched in disbelief as one of America’s most iconic cities was submerged under water and chaos ensued.

Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane and the third strongest storm to strike the United States.  The hurricane claimed over 1800 lives and caused $108 billion in damage.  The greatest damage was to the City of New Orleans. 

Most of the City of New Orleans is actually under sea level.  Surrounding the city are a series of

levees designed to retain the water from the Gulf Coast and Lake Pontchartrain.  The damage to the city was not only caused by the force of the hurricane, but by the flooding throughout the city after the levees failed.  Over 80% of the city was flooded, up to 20 feet in some areas.

Prior to the hurricane, citizens were told to evacuate the city.  Unfortunately for nearly 60,000 residents, evacuation was not an option.  Many had nowhere to go and many lacked the financial means to leave the area.  As a result after the storm and the flooding, thousands of New Orleans citizens were trapped.  Federal and local disaster relief organizations, including FEMA, were unprepared for such a catastrophe and these citizens spent days isolated without food, clean water, or other facilities. 

 

Without basic necessities, many turned to looting.  Police responded with force and the chaos grew.  Finally after many days FEMA took charge and coordinated with the Red Cross, National Guard and others to supply the people with food and begin an evacuation of the city.

10 years later the city still shows the signs of Hurricane Katrina.  While many places in the city have been restored to the greatness of the past, places such as the Lower 9^th Ward have had little restoration completed.  Even today, each year Bishop Kelly sends a group of students to New Orleans to aid in the rebuilding effort.

Prior to the hurricane New Orleans had a population of 455,188.  As of 2006, the population had dropped to 208,548.  As of 2013, the population is 378,715, close to 80,000 lower than pre-hurricane population.

Prior to reading this and watching the video, what did you know about Hurricane Katrina?  What are your thoughts about the event?  If you were a resident of New Orleans prior to Katrina, would you move back to the city? Why or why not? 

Graduation

Graduation is a week from Friday.  The school will miss you all.  Individually and collectively you bring a unique culture to the school.  Whenever there is a change in the classes, the school mourns.  Don’t get too choked up, when the new school year begins we move on, just as you will, and the school will adjust to the new classes and the new 8^th graders.

But before we move on, we should reflect on the impact you have had on the school and the impact the school has had on you.  Our school is not static.  It changes with each new class and with each new student.  Each class develops its own identity and personality.  That personality may change over the years as students come and go.  The collection of classes makes up the identity and personality of the school.  Even though this school has been around for over a hundred years, it is the students, classes and teachers along with the families and church that determines the cultural personality of the school.

Each of you alone and all of you together have helped shape this school and

your influence will be felt for years to come.  I believe in the idea that whenever you enter into something, you should have a goal to leave it better than it was when you started.  I believe you are leaving the school better today than when you started.  For that, we all owe you a thank you.

But just as you have had the opportunity to shape the school, I believe the school has helped to shape who you are.  While it may take years

before you are able to fully appreciate the impact the school has had on
your lives, I would expect you can look back over the years and find one or two lessons you will carry forward with you.  You may be able to identify one or two teachers which may have helped you to understand yourself as a student.  You may look at the friendships you have developed over the years and realize what a blessing it was to have them in your life.  You may look at the impact of having your Catholic
faith as a corner stone of your education and how that has shaped your understanding of all subjects, not just religion.

What impact do you believe you and your class had on the school?  How would you like your class to be remembered?  What are your fondest memories or greatest life lessons are you taking with you from St. Joe’s? What advice do you have for future 8^th grade classes? 

Week of Tragedy and Triumph

This past weekend has been filled with terrible and remarkable stories.  Baltimore, Maryland and Nepal have both been the point of tremendous suffering and incredible demonstrations of the human spirit since this past weekend.

Baltimore

It has been a trying week in the City of Baltimore.  Monday night resulted in 235 arrests, 20 police officers injured, 6 seriously, 144 vehicle fires and 19 structural fires.  The peaceful riots turned to violent acts of vandalism and destruction of property.  

The incident began with the arrest of 25 year old, Freddie Gray.  About a week after his arrest, Freddie died of a spinal injury.  Many in the Baltimore community have been protesting over the treatment of Freddie by the police.  Up until Monday, the protests were non-violent.  That all changed Monday, the day of Freddie’s funeral, when groups decided not to protest non-violently, but to create chaos and crime throughout the city.  

The residence of Baltimore, the family of Freddie Gary, and many Americans were horrified by the actions taken by these lawless thugs.  The Mayor and Governor of Baltimore have responded with additional protection for the residence and the police.  

If Monday was utter chaos, Tuesday was a sign that peace can overcome.  While protests continued, many of the people of the city spent the day cleaning the streets.  A group of committed and considerate citizens spent the day standing between the police and angry demonstrators in an effort to maintain civility.  Tuesday had 10 arrests and countless acts of concern and care for the community and law enforcement. While the underlying issue remains, hopefully the members of the community can continue to look for solutions in productive and non-violent actions.

Nepal

The country of Nepal was rocked with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake over the weekend.  Most recent reports estimate the death toll at 6,100.  Cities and communities were turned to rubble.  Approximately 450,000 people will be displaced, having to find a new home.  Additionally the earthquake triggered a landslide on Mount Everest, killing 19 climbers.  The death toll is expected to continue to increase as the debris is cleared.  

Nepal is one of Asia’s poorest nations.  Recent estimates believe the cost to rebuild Nepal will exceed $5 billion. This is about 25% of the entire Gross Domestic Product.  The international community is expected to assist Nepal in their recovery efforts.

With all the tragedy, there have been miraculous stories.  For example, after 22 hours of being buried beneath the debris, rescuers recovered a 4 month old boy.  The efforts of the first responders and the strength of the human spirit are never short of amazing.

What are your reactions to the events in Baltimore and Nepal?  What actions can we take to assist the people of Baltimore and Nepal?  

Earth Day 2015

April 22 marks the 35^th Earth Day in the United States.  The idea for a day dedicated to the environment originated 7 years earlier by Senator Gaylord Nelson.  He was concerned over the lack to awareness and regulations of the pollutants being released into our world. 

Now more than 35 years later, Earth Day and its organizers have increased public awareness of pollutants, identified and promoted “green” acts, have leveraged our schools and communities to enhance the knowledge and dedication of our youth to the cause, and countless other accomplishments. 

The Earth Day websites (http://act.earthday.org/) is tracking personal pledged to commit “green” acts.  The pledges include recycling grocery bags, unplugging appliances, recycling paper and plastic, and buying more local food.  While each of these acts may seem futile on their own, the impact of the collected groups across the globe will have a significant impact on our environment, especially over an extended period of time.  To date the website has over 1 billion personal pledges. 

What do you think of Earth Day?  What are some additional ways we can support Earth Day at school and in our community?  What are things you do at home?  Are there any additional activities you would be willing to commit to at home to support “green” living?

Presidential Campaign 2016

Once every four years, the United States holds an election for the President of the United States.  According to the Constitution, presidents are limited to two terms, or a total of 8 years.  Our next election for president will be in November 2016 and since President Obama has already served two terms, the United States will elect a new president. 

November 2016 may seem like a long ways off (8^th graders will be sophomores, 7^th grades will be in their freshman year of high school, and the 6^th graders will be the 8^th graders of St. Joe’s) but campaigning for the position is already underway.  Over the past few weeks a number of candidates have come forward to announce their presidential campaign.  This week announcements were made by former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and

Florida Senator Marco Rubio.  Over the past few weeks we have heard from Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and others.  This is just the beginning.  In the coming weeks, more candidates from both parties are expected to announce their intentions.

Since from this election will be a new president, the nominating process will be extensive.  Beginning in January of 2016, each party will hold primary elections.  The intention is for each party to determine the best candidate for the position.  Each candidate will be scrutinized and evaluated about every aspect of their lives and their positions on issues ranging from immigration to same-sex marriage, from Vladimir Putin to Israel.  No stone will go unturned.  At the conclusion of the primaries, there will be one candidate from each major party.  They will choose a running mate for vice president and hit the campaign trail, again. 

Do you think it is necessary to start this process 18 months before the election?  Is it an effective way for Americans to become familiar with the candidates or does it distract the government from dealing with issues facing our country?  What do you believe are the most important issues facing the president in the world today? What qualities do you think would make the best president for the 2016 election?  

Civil War - 150 Years Later

April 9, 2015 marks the 150^th anniversary of the infamous surrender of General Robert E Lee and the Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army bringing an end to the American Civil War. 

The American Civil War was the most deadly war ever fought by the United States.  After 4 years of fighting, approximately 2% of our population had lost their lives.  That is the equivalent to the entire population of Chicago in terms of today’s population. 

It was the beginning of modern warfare.  In addition to new weapons making it easier to eliminate your enemy, we also made significant progress providing medical care in the field of battle and addressing the sanitation of camps.  Of the 620,000 fatalities of the Civil War, more than 66% died of disease.  By the end of the war, the US Sanitation Commission reduced the disease rates by 50%. 

The Civil War redefined the United States and forever altered the ideas of freedom and liberty in our country.  At the conclusion of the war, more than 4 million slaves were freed.  In addition to the

physical wounds and rebuilding the structures damaged and destroyed during the war, the country needed to redefine its culture and views of humanity.  There is evidence today that we are still a work in progress. 

What do you know about the Civil War?  Knowing what we know today, was the Civil War worth the cost, or was there another way?  How should the Civil War be remembered, something to be celebrated or a source of embarrassment? 

Black History Month

Since 1976, the United States and Canada have recognized February as Black History Month.  The idea to dedicate time to the contributions of African Americans was originated in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson.   His vision was to increase the awareness of people and communities to the significant additions African Americans have made to the overall history of the United States. 

His vision has grown since 1926 to include an entire month where elementary, junior high and high school students take time to learn about notable figures and accomplishments of African Americans.

Black History Month’s annual celebration has come with its fair share of criticism.  From questioning the need to dedicate an entire month to a single race to complaints about the month chosen being the shortest month of the year, the opinions are as varied as they can be outlandish. 

 

Regardless, the idea to educate ourselves about the historical influence countless African Americans have had on our country and communities is with merit.  It is a time to dig past the dates and names to attempt to put yourself in the shoes of a race of people who have struggled to gain an equal footing in the United States. 

Without Black History Month we may be familiar but not as cognizant of the incredible feats of

Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, or Maya Angelou.  The contributions African Americans have made to the fabric of the United States are without question.

Please research and report back on the accomplishments of one of the following people:

Condoleezza Rice

George Washington Carver

Frederick Douglass

Booker T Washington

Louis Armstrong

What did you learn and why did you choose that person? 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, January 19 we are remembering the life and teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout the United States.  While we each may enjoy a day off of school, we do not want to lose the purpose of commemorating his life and his impact on the United States and the world by taking the day for granted.

Martin Luther was born in Atlanta, Georgia.  He was the son, grandson, and great grandson of Baptist ministers.  While he initially was reluctant to accept his inherited occupation, during his time at Morehouse College, Dr. King began to learn how to use his devout Christian beliefs and his natural ability to gather people to promote the ideas of social change.

As his life continued, he actively engaged in the promoting the civil rights of African Americans and the social changes so long overdue.  While the civil war ended nearly 100 years prior to Dr. King, it was not until the 1960’s that America began to recognize the equality of African Americans. 

The teachings of Martin Luther King are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.  Even though we have taken great strides as a country, we still hear and see acts of prejudice and bigotry in our society.  While we strive for equality and tolerance, we know there is still hate in the world.  Dr. King would encourage us to seek out acts of hate and intolerance in the world and find peaceful solutions to promote the human spirit.

In addition to Monday being a day for remembrance, it should also be a day of action.  A day dedicated to doing something to promote humanity and discourage intolerance.

The following is a link to the King Center.  The website includes many interesting and thought provoking ideas, including a biography of Dr. King and the history of the holiday.

http://www.thekingcenter.org/

What do you think Dr. King would think of our world today and the changes the country has undergone?  Can you think of situations in our world today where intolerance and prejudice exist?  What actions are you willing to take to promote the human spirit and the ideas of tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness?

New Year's Resolutions

Some look at the start of the New Year as a chance to wipe the slate clean and start new.  Many attempt this by identifying New Year’s resolutions.  January 1^st is a day to try to break old habits or to start new habits to live a better life.  Below is a list of the top 10 resolutions compiled by newspaper across the country.

• Spend more time with family and friends
• Exercise regularly
• Lose weight
• Enjoy life more and stress less
• Manage money better
• Take a trip
• Learn something new
• Help other
• Get organized
• Attend church 

What do you think about the idea of setting New Year’s resolutions? Why do you think so many people have difficulty keeping their resolutions?  Are you the kind of person that sets New Year’s Resolutions?  Why or why not?  If you did set any New Year’s Resolutions, would you mind sharing?  

Jimmy Valvano

“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” 

                                Jimmy Valvano, 1993 – announcing the Jimmy V Foundation

December 1-7 is Jimmy V week on ESPN.  You may not know who Jimmy Valvano was, but if you have had the misfortune of knowing someone afflicted with cancer, the odds are he and his life’s mission impacted your life. 

Jimmy Valvano was a successful basketball coach, commentator, and author.  He was a person of strong conviction and personal drive.  At an early age he pulled out white index cards and began to write down his personal goals for life.  He wanted to play high school and college basketball, he wanted to become an assistant coach, go on to become a head coach, cut down the nets in Madison Square Garden and win a National Championship.  At age 36, he was able to pull out those cards and cross off every item on the list.  Throughout his life he developed a personal philosophy which allowed an ordinary man to accomplish the extraordinary.  He was commented, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  It is up to you to decide what to do with them.”  Jimmy V chose to cherish and make the most of each one. 

After accomplishing his goals on the basketball court, he explored new directions from writing to commentating.  He was not interested in limiting himself to a single profession.  He embraced diversity in his life and his interests.

In 1993, Jimmy Valvano was given an obstacle that would prove to be his most difficult.  He was diagnosed with cancer.  The cancer proved to be too much for him to personally overcome, but through his vision and passion he has inspired and continues to inspire funding for education and research to cure cancer.  At the time of his diagnosis, cancer was an underfunded and devastating disease.  His charismatic and infectious attitude towards life and easy appeal to people made him an ideal person to raise the awareness of cancer and its impacts on our world and to raise arms to find a way to cure cancer.  While no cure has been found, through continued research many forms of treatment have been developed.  The Jimmy V Foundation has risen over $100 million in the past 20 years to fund cancer awareness and research. 

Jimmy V is an inspiring person.  His attitude towards life, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles is something to admire.   

Below is a video clip from the 1993 ESPY awards when he received the Arthur Ashe award for Courage.  During his speech he announces the Jimmy V Foundation.  This is a must see!!!

Below are the highlights from the 1983 National Championship.  It was one of the most exciting endings the tournament has ever seen.

What do you think of Jimmy Valvano, his life and his mission? If I gave you five index cards to write down your goals and dreams for your life, what would you write down?