Campus Voices
Middle School
What can you do with four minutes and 42 seconds and 168 middle school students?
Some magic was created in our Big Room at the Middle School on January 15 that warrants pause, recognition, and inspiration.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the Middle School held a community gathering with music, artwork, and reflections. The theme was “stepping up” and the program honored heroes, those who aspired for an ideal, and/or those who worked to carry out Dr. King’s dream.
Middle school voices are often stereotyped. Much of society suggests that Middle School students are typically and uniquely self-absorbed, alienated, rebellious and driven by their peer culture; nevertheless, our students stepped up in heartwarming ways and proved the stereotypes wrong. While Crazy in Alabama by Kate Campbell played in the background during our assembly, students sat quietly for the length of the song (four minutes and 42 seconds) and completed our custom-made If I Can Dream cards.
Our kids can and do speak from their heart and as a culture, we need to listen carefully. Society can underestimate both the wisdom and potential of this age group. They represent our future and deserve our attention. I am grateful for and inspired by their honest reflections and dreams. A selection of their responses can be found below (and a more complete list can be read HERE)
If I Can Dream…
...I would make sure people could pursue their dreams in freedom. It is not enough for people to say that they have a dream, they have to follow through with it, and hopefully, if people had the freedom to pursue their dreams, they would dream and change the things that make the world hurt.
...I hope that genocide comes to an end as people see the character of others, not just classification of looks. I also hope that we stop generalizing.
...My dream is for Haitians who are illegally working in the sugar cane industry in the Dominican Republic to stop being a part of modern-day slavery. I would like the genocide in Darfur to end, healthcare problems all over the world to end. I would also like the education system to be better all over the world.
...I dream that one day, we can all be equal, no matter what color of skin, how rich or poor, that no one would have to step out on to the cold, hard, sidewalks, hats in front, begging….
...My dream is to become a person who stands up for people who might not be able to stand up for themselves.
...I have a dream that people who have power and money help people who have only hope. My dream is not targeted to one people or cause. Why focus on one piece of peace when you can help malnourished families, AND abused women and children, AND people who do not have “dramatic” problems but little ones that make them unhappy on a daily basis? …My dream is for people to make little changes, because little changes can sometimes change the world. I have a dream that we, the people of the country, will step up and do something! I believe in this school because we all have the power to make this dream a reality.
...I have a dream that one day people will feel comfortable with one another even if they didn’t know each other. There will become a day where there is no fear. Our individual backgrounds and personality would be expressed.
...I dream of a place where everyone can remain safe, whether it be from driving or from nightmares. My dream is a place where teenagers stop dying from drunk driving and street violence comes to an end.
...I dream of a cure for cancer.
...I would put an end to the war in Iraq and bring the troops back and send medicine and AIDS medicine to Africa.
...One of my dreams for the world is to find a way to end homelessness. Everyone deserves a home, especially during the winter months. No one deserves to be in the cold.
...My dream is to travel the world and experience the different cultures of each country.
...I dream that a person’s religion, skin color, political beliefs, or ethnicity never be used to judge someone.
...I dream that that there are no small people, just those won’t stand for a cause. I dream many things for the future, but above all, I dream that everyone will find and stand up for something that they believe.
Calendar
