How often have you heard that phrase? I’m sure every generation has said it at one point, but then the kids prove us wrong—like in the program, Do the Write Thing Challenge. Southwest Airlines is a national sponsor of this program and provides passes for the ambassadors and their families. This initiative brings together community, business, and governmental leaders to help reduce youth violence in communities across the United States.
The mission of the Do the Write Thing Challenge is to provide middle school students with the opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives. Through classroom discussions and writings, students communicate what they think should be done to reduce youth violence. In addition, the students make personal commitments to do something about this problem. In fact, more than 60,000 of these students chose to accept the challenge by submitting writings to their local Do the Write Thing committee and by initiating violence reduction efforts or volunteering in existing ones. More than one million students have participated in the Challenge since its inception. In July of this year, two national ambassadors from each participating jurisdiction were honored at a national recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Christina and Jacob's families at the ceremony in Washington, D.C.
I had the privilege of meeting student Christina and her family at the ticket counter in West Palm Beach in July. I soon learned that she and her fellow student Jacob were two of 56 students from all over the country chosen as ambassadors for the Do the Write Thing Challenge. I was so proud to learn that there were two students representing Palm Beach County, Florida. Christina attends sixth grade at Palm Springs Community Middle School in Palm Springs, and Jacob is in the eighth grade at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach.
It wasn’t until after they returned from Washington D.C. that I was able to read their essays. Christina and Jacob have made it a goal to help others as they were both affected.
Christina writes, “My suggestion would be to help and counsel kids with bad home lives and low self-esteem and jealousy issues, but some of it has to come from us as individuals by treating each other with kindness, fairness, and equality.”
Christina writes, “My suggestion would be to help and counsel kids with bad home lives and low self-esteem and jealousy issues, but some of it has to come from us as individuals by treating each other with kindness, fairness, and equality.”
Christina and her mother, Johanna Gambale
Jacob feels strongly that, “It is our responsibility to aid those in need, and to try to snuff out the causes of bullying at their source, as well as working to improve their lives.”
Jacob and his mother, Paula Wesson
What an honor it is to know that “kids these days” have already figured out that, “If we all gave even one ounce of kindness, generosity, and respect, we would have an ocean of peace.” Way to go, Christina and Jacob!