Support

One of the best aspects of this project has been reconnecting with people. I got the following message from a high school acquaintance. It was timely - I needed an inspirational boost. But besides the support, there was a great reminder of what people are doing, every day, to make their world a better place. And if this ridiculous plan of mine can trigger a few people to share their stories, then that’s fantastic. Particularly if they can write about them so beautifully!

From Erin:

So I’ve been following your quest for 90k and some of your worldly exploits courtesy of facebook. I must say that I am impressed. Not in that “some random guy I went to highschool with turned out to be something after 10 years, who knew?” kind of way. Rather, in a “I know someone who is going to make a fundamental difference in this world”/warm and fuzzy sort of way.

I can’t say that my passion to seek change in this world will ever lead me to an institution like Oxford, or even out of Kamloops, but it does get me out of bed in the morning. My mantra when I walk into a classroom of kids is “teaching is the greatest act of optimism”. Some days it feels more like “teaching is glorified babysitting”.

Today I challenged a class of grade 5/6’s to perform a random act of kindness without being asked and without expectations of a reward. I told them about “paying it forward” and imagine what would happen if they helped 3 people, and those 3 helped 3 more each. I made them write it in their agendas before I would let them go at the end of the day. I can only hope that one actually did something about it.

I want to be teaching my social studies class some day down the road and see you in a text book with a caption about a Canadian who did more than get a job, buy a truck, and consume resources.

I commend you as you strive to give back and become the change you wish to see in the world.