Both National and State Conventions manage to get inspirational keynote speakers for the kids to hear. One thing that always seems to spark discussion are those speeches that focus on doing for others. They seems to get kids in the mindset to talk about what we can do at home to be better, while doing mostly for others.
Last night, we watched the founder of Kid President (look it up www.kidpresident.com ), Brad Montague give an unpolished, nervous, completely inspiring speech entitled #ShineGreatness. The conversations this sparked even with just the two girls I have with me was crazy. During the keynote, they kept say "ooh that's good" and "we need to do that" and "how can we make that happen?" To me this is the greatest accomplishment of keynote speakers. Really the art of appealing to high school kids to get them completely pumped, is amazing to me. There's always an added bonus if they become pumped about serving others rather than themselves.
One of my biggest goals each year is to do as much community service, with my kids, as possible. From can food drives, to the Sonoma County Secret Santa Hearts, to working at the Foodbank, I'm always impressed by those who want to do more for others. Now, I might have grown up normal or abnormal, jury is still out, but my mom was always a big proponent of doing community service no matter how big or small. 4-H played a big role with this, always volunteering here and there around our little town. I feel like I've absorbed some of that, because when we do for others, we are much better at being grateful for everything we have.
Following the session and speaker last night, I took my girls to Steak & Shake (one of my faves!). It was busy and packed with regular customers and a whole lot of FFA members. At one point an elderly man, who had seen better times came in a sat down. Quickly following, a young lady from California in full FFA dress, came over introduced herself and told the man she would like him to order anything he wanted and she was going to buy him dinner. She sat and talked with him for a good 15-20 minutes. That is just pure goodness. It made me even more proud that she was from a California chapter. My girls just sat watching and talking about all the things we need to do at our own school to get more people involved in community service and practicing better servant leadership. In that hour, they decided on at least 5 things we can do to involve our chapter starting this month. It was also discussed about how we can't "let the service die" after the holidays because people need help all year.
I can't wait to get back to California, so the girls can explain all their great ideas to the officer team. I think the best part of their ideas are the practicality, because we can make all of them happen.
Brad Montague, talked a lot about how adults want to do good, but kids are innately good and untainted with loving people. They do good and spread greatness just because-- no contest, no prize, no recognition-- just plain old feel good service! I think everyone needs to be more like that!
From Kid President:
"Love changes everything. So fill the world with it."
