I was dropping off my neighbor at the middle school.
Not the school just down the street, but the one on the other side of town.
The middle school with the BAD reputation - all of the "trouble makers" go there after they get kicked out of the "good" school.
Chase hasn't been kicked out of school, he just has a lot of friends that have.
He loves his school.
As I was leaving, I noticed a bunch of leaves tucked into the fence along the tennis courts.
PAY IT FORWARD
I asked Chase if this was something the school planned.
"No," he said. "The kids just do something like this every year on their own."
As a tribute.
And THIS is the "Bad" school?
The one with the "reputation?"
Where all of the students who are trouble makers hang out?
Chase and I had a long talk, and ...
I realized I have been guilty of a lot of things.
Of assuming that the rumors were true.
Of being JUDGMENTAL of things that I know nothing about.
Of being biased and discriminatory.
No wonder Chase loves his school.
Thank you Chase.
Thank you students of Athey Creek Middle School.
I think you're AWESOME!!!
I am linking this up with Jan and Jer's wonderful "Friday's Fences!"
This is so creative! Really cool.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! There's a high school near us that posts messages in their chainlink fence once in a while, but it's always made out of strips of something in the school colors, and supports the sports team or something. This is so much better on so many levels. I love the idea of using ephemeral, natural materials to do something so positive. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteWOW! This should be what they're highlight on the news. What a wonderful thing. I loved the story, I adore the pictures and the pluck of these precious kids. Sometimes so-called trouble makers have hearts the size of a lion's.
ReplyDeleteawesome story and a good lesson for us all. very creative kids they are. wow on that fence graffiti. i loved the movie pay it forward and this reminds me that i have NOT been doing that
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story and a great learning lesson! How creative are those kids! Thanks for playing FF
ReplyDeleteGreat write-up. I think we all are guilty of making unwarranted assumptions. "Pay it Forward" I am not familiar with. I "assume" it is the opposite of "payback"?
ReplyDeleteThey could have 'wrote' anything with the leaves but to put "Pay It Forward" - how cool is that!
ReplyDeleteKudo's to you for having the talk with Chase. Way to go!
Carletta@Round The Bend
It must have taken a long time to make that message out of leaves! I admire their thought processes, and their determination!! A reminder to the world, for sure!!
ReplyDeleteI am thinking, too, of the new crop of Remembrance Day TV shows this year. It could be so easy to let the reality of the War fade into history, but young filmmakers have not chosen to do that, either!
What a clever bunch of kids, very creative and obviously they have a heart of gold
ReplyDeleteBridget #2