Mannheim Middle School

This past April 17th. I spoke to students at a school where it all began for me. Mannheim Middle School is the first school that gave me a chance over ten years ago. When I first decided to start public speaking, I thought it would be a great idea to go back to where it all started. Graves Junior High School was the school I attended as a child. I was such notorious student that I was denied of the opportunity to share my story with its students, let alone an access into the building to visit my former teachers who were still there. . So I began to speak to small classes and groups for after school programs. Most schools that I spoke to could not relate to me or my story. I would always exit a program asking myself if I should keep trying.
Then I was given my first opportunity to share my story on stage in front of the whole school at Mannheim Middle School. This is what I always wanted. I will never forget how I felt sick in my stomach as I was traveling to the school that morning. As I entered the school the sick feeling was gone. The atmosphere of the halls was identical to what I remembered from my junior high. When I got on stage I was scared! But, as I looked through the room all I saw was very young innocent boys and girls that I knew would relate to my story. As I began to speak, my fear of speaking was gone. Every time I would stop speaking the room was quite. I began to pour my heart out to this audience. With my story I was able to make them laugh, then minutes later have them cry. After my first successful presentation I told everyone in the room that my presentations are dedicated to my new born son, Jimmy. As I made this statement I wiped my tears. I began to cry because I knew that some of these young boys and girls were going to go through what I went through. This was the first school that made me feel at home. I have gone back to this school through the years since then.
April 17th. was one of my most emotional presentations of all. Every time I arrive to this school I always feel at home. This is the one school where my presentation gets better and better. This day was different. I have shared my story so many times now that I can talk and think of other things at the same time. As I was sharing my story this time I began to think about the first time. That was about ten years ago. I began to think and add the years. The students I spoke to ten years ago were about eleven to fourteen years old. They have to be about twenty one to twenty four years old by now. Before my presentation was over I began to cry. I kept thinking about how a percentage of those students ten years ago are now gang members, drug addicts, and alcoholics. The reality of this is hard to accept, but I know they will always remember how I poured my heart out on that stage ten years ago. Special thanks to Ms. Rezabek for giving me that first opportunity back then. Mannheim will always be home to me!