Lessons from Starfire University: “Making Contributions,” 5th in a series of 5

[QUICK REVIEW: Joseph Scheets, 26, graduated this week from an adult education opportunity for adults with special needs.  There is not enough space or time for me to tell you all the positive impact these past four years have had on his life.  Suffice it to say that as his dad, I am profoundly grateful to all involved.  Check out their site: http://www.starfirecouncil.org.

I’d like to spend some time with you thinking together about each of the five sections of the graduation program.  These are Experiencing Respect, Making Choices, Sharing Places, Growing in Relationships, and Making Contributions.  The printed program for Thursday evening’s Graduation had an explanatory phrase for each one, like this:]

MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributing your gifts, talents, passions, interests,

ideas and opinions to others in the community 

Four students exemplified this with their Capstone Projects —

• Nikki shared her love of the true story of a person overcoming mulitiple disabilities by contacting the authors of his biography, writing, producing, staging and acting in a drama about his life.  She and her team got a thunderous ovation in a packed theater.
• Brian’s laugh is contagious.  When he learned about Laughter Yoga and its impact upon corporate America, familes and other communities, he pursued training.  Now a fully certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, Brian shares his gifts in a variety of settings, and always “leaves ’em laughing.”
• Lauren likes to journal, and knows how helpful it can be.  She gathered traditional composition books and a group of like-minded people who decorated hundreds of blank journals she gave to The Ronald MacDonald House.  Right now there are people of all ages writing and working through things in those journals.
• Joseph believes that “Bikes and busses are better than cars.”  Taking that as his title, his project involved an all-day film making workshop with a national documentary team.  Featured in one of their films, he interviewed bicycle riders on the benefits of urban cycling.  The film was shown in a theater to an appreciative audience at a film festival, where he spoke as an advocate for cycling.

Discovery began as they developed ideas with teams of professionals in their fields.  Elation ensued as the events came to life and were enjoyed by appreciative crowds.

The relationships between students and their “Public Allies,” seasoned professionals in the respective fields with whom they worked, were clearly ones of deep and shared respect.  Their brief speeches and videos showed this, and it was powerfully moving.

More than an award for trying, more than applause for presence, these Capstones represented the realization of dreams.  Doors were discovered, knocked on, opened and walked through.   These Projects serve as introductions to the next chapter in each student’s life.

How about you today?  You have as many gifts, talents, passions, interests ideas and opinions as these four Starfire Graduates.  With whom can you share them today?  What contributions will you make to your own community today?

You can start by doing one thing.  Today.

Do that, and I’ll see you back here soon.