Two Stories of Courage

Yes here comes the story of the Hurricane. The man the authorities came to blame

For something that he never done. Put in a prison cell but one time he could-a been The champion of the world. 

- Bob Dylan - The Hurricane

Meet Ivan. 6th grader from HMS. This was his first time in a swimming pool. He is a part of the Swimming apprenticeship this semester. Ivan and his sister have never been in a pool nor have they even swam before. On Saturday April 2, at Aycock Recreational Center, the Marlins of Raleigh  came to Henderson to host a swim clinic for students in the Water Safety/ Swimming apprenticeship.  I'm always excited about the on goings of this partnership with Aycock, because its the only swimming apprenticeship in the National Network. By the end of this semester almost 40 students will have learned about water safety and basic swimming fundamentals.

Power Kicks

Back to Ivan.....  at the end of the swimming clinic each student had an opportunity to jump off the big diving board at the pool.  As most of the students headed to the diving board... there were a couple of students who were intimidated and took their time getting over there.  Ivan was one of them. The thought of jumping off the board became bearable for most as they watched their peers jump off, but not Ivan.  He was over to the side shivering from the water and thought of having to dive off this board. While most students needed an encouraging word or two.... Ivan didn't... he was over to the side trying to pump himself up to jump off the diving board. He worked his way up to the diving board by practicing scooting himself off the edge into deep end of the pool.. After doing this a couple of times, he willed himself to walk on to the Diving Board, where four Marlins of Raleigh coaches awaited his entry into the water.

Angelo  & Kyle @ Papa Mojo's 

 Meet Angelo Cross and Kyle Taperek. Both are Citizen Schools staff members that push students to overcome obstacles, take positive risk, and put fear behind them to accomplish amazing feats. On this evening, Angelo and Kyle had to put their teachings to practice. Every Wednesday night there is Open Mic at Papa Mojo Roadhouse Both Angelo and Kyle are beginning guitarists who wanted to test their craft at an open mic event. Angelo, who is 28 years old, has composed a 30 for 30 list (30 things to do before you turn 30). On that list is performing at an Open Mic.After work the two musicians headed down Highway 85 to Durham to perform at the open mic.  When they arrived the venue was packed. Everyone there was there to see the music talent performing that evening.

Most of the talent there were professionals whom come to try and get booked by the restaurant.  Angelo and Kyle were neither professionals nor trying to get booked. When the two saw the talent that had sign up for the event, Angelo, like Ivan became engulfed with fear. As each musicians performed, Angelo became more nervous. After 8 acts,  it was Angelo and Kyle's turn.  As Kyle set up, Angelo tried to cut the tension with an introduction and some jokes, but everyone at the restaurant were focus on two things.
1. Who were these two new guys performing at Papa Mojos
2. Could they perform?

Kyle Taperek on acoustic guitar 

Kyle began to strum Wonderwall by Oasis   and Angelo closed his eyes and just began to sing.... 4 minutes later... they had officially played their first song at a live musical venue. While most would think that should have made Angelo a bit more comfortable; it didn't. The hardest was yet to come.   Their final song of the evening was a tough one!  It was one that the two had just worked on recently and Angelo probably should had realized  was of an intermediate level of difficulty.  Angelo leads Kyle into the song and then Kyle begins to strum Cupid by 112 . Anyone that listens to 112 or at least that song know the high notes that Slim hits. As the two played, they eventually settle down and just perform to the best of their ability.

The open mic performance really parallels Ivan adventure to jump off the diving board. Courage isn't one of those things that you simple develop as a youth. There are many obstacles, daunting challenges, and adventures that will really test your "mettle." I believe that your ability to cope with those obstacles is highly contingent upon  whether you are exposed to experience such as jumping off a dive board, singing or speaking in front of a huge audience of strangers. The moment Kyle and I jumped on stage, I really felt like Ivan did, scared yet I was excited about doing an "impossible feat."

As I told another student, "What separates a leader from other people is the amount of people that watch you do what they can't do!

We could learn a lot from Ivan.... I know I did!!!