#30 Joe Opatowski

Something we can learn from the life of Joe is that even if we have nothing, we can still help people. People don't need money or things to be happy, they just need a reason to be happy. Even if it just means having a good, long laugh, or someone saying something that makes you feel like a good person. When you see someone with less than you, don't think that they are sad are depressed, they might be happier than you because they truly enjoy the small things in life. They find joy in seeing trees blooming or flowers growing while you might just see it as something that always happens. Joe had nothing, but he gave everything that he could to make others happier.

#27 Oprah's Story

Her story is amazing. She had an experience in her childhood that stuck with her through her whole life, and when she was able to, she gave other children a memory that will last for the rest of their lives. I think Oprah is a fantastic person that deserves to be respected by the whole world. She has done so much to help the less fortunate while other celebrities just bask in their own glory. You never hear about bad things that Oprah has done, only the good things, because she doesn't need to constantly be in the tabloids to feel good about herself. I do think that her big heart brought her the success she has now. Sure, she probably did a lot to help herself before she was financially able to help people to this extent, but the good things that she did gained her the respect she has from so many people. The respect that she gained is what gave her that success.

#26 Monarch Park Collegiate

IDCI can learn that even if something seems like it won't work because people are too different, those differences are actually what can make something work. The kids at the Monarch were so different, but when they found something that they were all passionate about, they ran with it and everyone came up with different ideas. They all helped to do something great. Another thing that IDCI can learn is that even if we think we need more than we can give, we probably really don't need it. There are people with no school and we complain about not having enough Smartboards. Like really. There's something not right about that.

# 24 Lions and Tigers and Zebras.. Oh My!

The lessons of the zebras can be applied to life at IDCI because people need to realize that although they can still be themselves, they can't survive on their own. You always see those people that sit in tiny little groups because no body is 'good enough' for them, but what they don't realize, is that other people don't really care. They know that have a small secluded group that doesn't accept others will eventually breakup, and the people within it will have no where to go because they took part in that seclusion. Meanwhile, the people in these big groups that accept everyone, are just waiting for those people to accept others. I think people in IDCI need to realize that their small little group, probably won't make it through high school without accepting others. The zebras all pack together so they can protect each other but also protect themselves. By allowing others to get close to them, they are benefiting in two ways. First of all, they are protecting themselves, but they also have the pride of knowing that they are helping to protect someone else.

#29 Festive Fun

During the last weeks before school ended for holidays, Courteney and I organized the "Human Christmas Tree'. We cut head holes out of green felt then attached Velcro to ornaments. We had groups of people race to see who could decorate their 'Christmas tree' faster. The ones that participated seemed to enjoy themselves quite a bit.
I also participated in IDCIdols. I was in the 'Evolution of Dance' video with other leadership students and I also sang with Brittany. Everyone that watched Idols looked like they were very happy with how awesome Idols was this year.

#25 Belonging

I feel like I belong in my CYAC group. This connection is important to me because I have met so many great people through this group and we all have a common goal, to help kids in the hospital. CYAC is sort of like my second family, especially lately. We have been working/volunteering together more lately, what with our handwashing music video and the Ball. These people are definetely helping to make me a better person.

#23 Oscar Pistorius

I think it's fine that he competed at the Olympics, but I don't think that he should have been allowed to complete in the Paralympics too. I think that he should have had to choose between one or the other. NOT BOTH. Being in the both the Olympics and the Paralympics should not be allowed because it completely contradicts. If you're eligiable to compete in the Olympics, you should no longer be eligiable to complete in the Paralympics. I just don't think it works.

#22 can you have "bad" morals and still be a "good" leader?

I definitely think you can have bad morals but still be a good leader, but only to an extent. If those bad morals get in the way of your leadership, then you are no longer a good leader. But if your bad morals don't affect your leadership skills at all, then you are still a good leader.

#21 Lance Armstrong

I don't think that Lance Armstrong is a villian or a hero. I think somewhere in between like most normal people. Sure, he cheated in a cycling race, but he raised so much money for cancer research. I think that if I was more into bike races, I would probably think that the bad outweighed the good. But I do know people that have, or had, cancer and I'm sure that the money he helped to raise, helped them in some way. That is why I think he is more like a normal person than a hero or a villian.

#20 Midterm

So last night, I spent my evening at the London Convention Center. I was there from 4:30 to 10:00 volunteering at the Children's Magical Winter Ball. This ball's purpose was to fundraise for London Health Sciences Center. There were people wearing full lengths gowns. These people paid at least $150 to be there. These are the kinds of people that have money and know how to use it to help others. These people are the ones that think of others before themselves. These are the kind of people that we need more of in the world. I was helping out at the Philanthropy table for the majority of the night, taking the gifts that families had brought for the children that had to be in the hospital over Christmas. The gifts varied from books and crayons to massive gift sets. I don't think the children even understood how much of a difference they were making in another child's life. I also spent some of my night helping out at the craft section. The kids that came, had the option to color and sign a card for a child in the hospital, and some of them even wrote notes. You can tell that even though they don't completely understand the difference they are making, they are still so happy to help.

#18 Me to We : pg 46 10 % stopped

I think the fact that they were going to give a speech about being a good samaritan makes it a big deal. If it had been any other class, it wouldn't have been as big of a deal. These are supposed to be the people that would stop to help a poor man, not the ones that would just step over him. These 10% of the people in the class seem to be the only ones that not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.

#17: Amanda Todd

I think that this particular story is getting too much attention. She isn't the only person that has killed herself because of bullying. Sure she is a good example of what can happen when you continuously bully someone, but she isn't the only one. I feel like her story is getting around more because of social media which, ironically, caused all of her problems. I think that if she would have been the 'typical' bullied person who was bullied about her looks, she wouldn't get as much attention as she did. But she was a beautiful young girl that made bad decisions.

#14: Challenge Day

Challenge Day was absolutely amazing. There's no words to describe how amazing the day was. It's one of those things have you absolutely HAVE to experience at least once in your life. It is a life changing experience.

#11: Keith Taylor's Story

I think Keith's story is amazing. He gave up everything that he didn't need so he could help others because people had helped him. He helped so many people get things that they needed but couldn't get themselves, and probably changed their lives. He helped a child see his mother's face for the first time. Nothing could be better then seeing your mother's face for the first time. So many people were affected by his website that he thought no one would even notice.

#10: Marc's Story

I think Marc's story is just as inspiring as Craig's. They each experienced different things, but they're equally amazing. Each of them had their own transformation and moment when they knew they had to help other people. For Marc, it was meeting his Thai friends. For Craig, it was reading the article about the young boy. They each experienced a life changing event that made them to want to help people that couldn't help themselves. They each made decisions that no one else understood, but they knew in their hearts that they were doing the right thing. I don't think either story outshines the other. Marc and Craig are both amazing and inspiring people that have made it their goal in life to help others.

#6: Kim's Story

Kim's story was truly heart wrenching. The journalist used her pain and suffering to get famous and she was only known as 'The Girl in the Picture'. Yet she didn't let that run her life. She made a name for herself and came out from under her title. It is an inspirational story and a great lesson to all people that have had some sort of a rough childhood. It teaches people that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to  and it doesn't matter how they look or where they came from. I think everyone should know Kim's story.

#5: Me to We: Craig`s Story

Craig's story is absolutely inspiring. He saw something he didn't like and decided to change it and that makes me want to do more. He knew exactly what he wanted to and how he was going to do it then he found people to help him. The fact that he was only twelve at the time makes it even that more inspirational. Most of the time, he didn't even know how much of a difference he was making, yet he still kept going.

#9 Book of Awesome

That moment when you're having the worst day ever and you walk down the hall, feeling like you're about to break down into a loud, uncontrollable sob, then you see that one person. That one person that can make you smile no matter what mood you're in. And BAM. Your day has become a million and ten times better, just by seeing this person's face and remembering every dumb or stupid thing that that person has done, just to see you smile. Awesome.

#4 Best Leadership Experience

I think being the student representative for Project Linus would be my best leadership experience. I got to take part in the all-clubs meetings and I was also involved in making important decisions that had to do with the club.

#3 A Leader

The first leader that comes to mind is Nelson Mandela. He went through so much and was still able to lead fairly. He helped so many and did so many good things. It takes a real leader to go through what he did and still be able to be a good leader for so many people.