#22 The Second Family

Besides my own I consider this family as my second.

I first met the Bye family 7-8 years ago when I did taekwondo. Their son Andrew became my best friend, he was like the older brother I never had. We did everything together. Mountain Biking, sparring practice, learning hand grab methods, anything we were inseperable. Over the years his parents accepted me as another daughter. I'd go over and they'd get me to do most house hold chores (i.e. dishes help make dinner) which you don't usually get most guests to do, but I don't mind, it makes me feel more welcome like im at home.

For the future, I see the Bye family as another support group, people that are there to to help me out through lifes challenges. Just like they have for the last 7-8 years. I wouldn't change what they have taught me, and given me. and i wish to continue this into the future

#21 Zebras

How we can apply the method of the Zebra to our lives is to be able to stick together, to stay together and have the strong defend the weak in a time of need. We should all be the same, and see life that way because, as soon as we see ourselves as better then someone else, we mark ourselves with that red dot, and soon as that happens life picks us off, and thenm we don't have that support group anymore.

Just like the zebras who were marked, that the lions picked off..

#20 Leader in Disguise

Kim stories the one who I admire the most. She was a shy 11 year old girl who got an idea and went through with it. Most 11 year old girls are worried about friends, school and fun but Kim stepped out of that comfort zone, and wanted to make a difference.

Kim mad an amazing leap forward but so did Brenda and Mkike. They did what they wanted to the most, they took an idea, and expanded on it until they got what they wanted from it. and still helped it to grow.

#19 Pay it Forward

a) The movie "Pay it Forward" is a great movie. It has a solid, moral behind it, and shows how a small gesture can influence so many. I really do enjoy this movie, and would recoment it to all.

b) I think this movie is realisitc because, it can happen. It starts off with the smallest gesture and then it moves on from there. I've seen it happen before to. One guy holds open the door, the next guy helped an elderly women pay for her coffee.

#18 Ideas for fun

a) Have annoucements, put up posters, go into classrooms and talk about what's happening and explain what will go on at the overnight.

b) Have a bake sale, or anything that involves using food make up a small fee that can easily be paid.

Have a game like "gotcha", but to not get out of the game, and keep playing you have to pay a small fee.

#17 Going to "We" instead of "Me"

Out of the four basic skills, empathy is the strongest skill that's needed. With empathy we can become "We". Empathy teaches people to look at others not negatively, or as better off or worse then us. But as someone who is the same as us, no matter their lifestyle. To be able to say we have become a "we" world or even a "we" community is to be able to see ach other on an even playing field. To be able to understand as the same and realize that on the inside we all have our bad days and we are all the same.

#16 Tim's Story

I chose Tim's story because, it shows how people can change. It shows how someone who is full of themselves can be aw strucked and have a lightbulb go off in their head, by a one time thing.

This story also reminded me a lot of myself. I used to turn a blind eye to people with disabilities, mainly because I was embarassed and din't know what to do. THen when I met Becky and her family, my thoughts changed. I realized that people with disablilities just want friends and someone to say hi to. Just like Tim did when we went to the school for the severally disabled he became that friend, that person they needed for their voices to be heard, I would like to think I've done the same.