This is a quick rough draft inspired by senior seminar today. Read it, offer criticism, and share your thoughts. I would liked to call it... Don't Be A Coward.

Why does it take a guest speaker, assembly, and speeches to get us to reach out and for others to help those reaching? Why don't we do it everyday? What was so different about today? The truth is that only one thing was changed. Everyone decided to do it and it made people feel comfortable doing what they have always wanted to do, reaching out for aid, and supplying that aid. Just as Keith said, “Don’t Be a Coward”.

We had the honor of listening to such a skilled speaker and we chose to act on his inspiring words. For many, my self included, they touched our very souls like a tender mother giving her care to a young child. This energy flowed through us, creating an immense desire to help and open that hidden tragedy deep within our hearts. This humble man, who came to us as a headstrong and tender father of three, turned click-y teenagers who didn’t know one another into best friends regardless of race or gender. I heard some heartbreaking stories from self doubt and molestation. Some have never dared to utter these grim stories to even their best friends or family. He gave us the hope to not be a coward and the strength to open up.

I was amazed. I looked around and saw my good friends, who are about as serious as a drunken man watching a mime, slowly start crying. Suddenly, a thought slipped through my mind. Why can’t we do this everyday? On the day-to-day basis, most of us would never look at a member of another click and wonder if his mom is winning her battle with cancer, and even worse that child would never think to tell anyone of her pain. These cuts run deep. They slowly bleed, growing larger and etching themselves farther into us like a frigid river. This icy pain is held in by one thing, cowardice and self-doubt. The problem is we are all afraid of what others are going to think about us when we bare our pink underbellies, when we show them our bleeding scars.

I am a victim of this as well. What will everyone think of me when I show them my true pain? Will I still be a man? Will I have that same respect? Will they care for me? The truth is, most people will listen, and help you. You will be more of a man for baring the truth. You will be strong. You will have more respect. You will overcome your fear, and become a better person. They will care for you; I can guarantee they will. Within most of us is an urge to help and a need to be helped. We all want to be accepted, and all it takes to achieve this is to over come our F.E.A.R. or as Kevin said, False Evidence Appearing Real. Our doubts are not the truth. Don’t be a coward.

These acts of pure kindness we’re inspired by one man, daring to do it first. He had the strength to approach the looming trial of 300 judgmental teenagers. We watched him, a looming group of dark hooded figures ready to smite him down at his first mistake, and realized it was our mistake. He opened his soul, and we responded in kind. This effect will be similar if you attempt it. When you see a lonely kid at lunch eating by him self, why not go over to him and strike up a conversation? Who knows what this child could be going through? You could make his day. By extending one small act of kindness, you make it acceptable to your other students to be kind. By overcoming your F.E.A.R. we can unite as a class and make a change in someone’s life, one small step at a time; As Kevin said, “Don’t Be a Coward”.