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2016 EDUCATION MAGAZINE
LINCOLN DAILY
NEWS.COMMarch 1, 2016 Page 35
focuses on putting reality before research. We’re
gonna bring real people, with real stories, to the
classroom to inspire and engage young people’s
lives.”
Every one matters
The Harbor touches on topics from bullying, clicks,
prejudices, judgment, hope, time-management,
diversity, mentorship, tolerance, pressure, fear and
the list goes on and on. One important concept
that Smith emphasizes is, “You have to understand
something: every one of us matters, we all matter.
But if each of us can understand that, that we all
got value, that we all matter, that’s where we begin
to change the culture of our schools.” With his
simple and casual delivery, Smith is establishing a
relationship with his audience and his philosophy,
“In order to change the whole world, you must first
change your world” is spot-on with these young
adults.
Show me your friends and I’ll show you your
future
One student at Mount Pulaski High School who
was particularly influenced by the charismatic
motivational speaker was Will Stewart. Stewart,
a senior at MPHS, said of Smith, “He’s really a
good speaker. He talked for probably three hours
without any interruptions. He talked about how he
was one of the ghost kids when he was a freshman
in high school and then he became a jock and
became one of the cool kids and everyone looked
up to him. Then he finally realized that the cool
kid lifestyle is not always what it’s all summed
up to be.” Good point. Smith even brings up an
interesting point to ponder in one of his videos,
“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your
future.”
Stewart also mentioned that a neat part about the
videos is it’s not just Smith doing the talking.
He brings in real people who the students may
recognize from other walks of life. Stewart added,
“He has a lot of celebrity friends who are on the
videos. Different people every time talk about
what they’ve been through. They talk about just
ying to do your best.”
Many of these real people are what can be called
extreme sport athletes. They talk about making a
difference in the world, something that we need
now more than ever in our society. Not all are
athletes, though. Some are just ordinary folks
who have accomplished extraordinary things.
Something again that students can and need to
relate to.
Another student who has been positively impacted
by The Harbor videos and the creation of the
“Legacy Groups” is Danielle Miller. Miller, a
junior at MPHS, said, “I think that the “Legacy
Groups” are a really good idea. I like how it gets
the whole school involved and that we learn about
each other in all different ways.”
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