43
Man with no limbs inspires Boardman middle-schoolers
BOARDMAN
Brianna Prosser and Hailey Cox, both fifth-grade students at Center Middle School, were so excited they could barely get their words out.
“It was more than amazing,” gushed Hailey.
“I think I was the first one crying,” said Brianna.
The girls had just seen a live simulcast Thursday from Nick Vujicic, a motivational speaker from Australia who has a rare disorder that caused him to be born without limbs.
Every student at the school heard Vujicic this week; Boardman middle-school students and any community members who would like to accompany them are invited to see him speak at the Wolstein Center on Saturday in Cleveland, with transportation provided by the school district.
Those who wish to attend should meet at Center Middle School at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $5.
Brianna and Hailey said they are inspired to help stop bullying at their school after learning about Vujicic, who shared positive messages about overcoming obstacles, hope, the importance of small acts of kindness and more.
“You can have arms and legs and still not be happy,” he said. “If you put your happiness in temporary things, your happiness will be temporary.”
He shared with students the difficulties he faced growing up, such as being bullied for the way he looked, which at age 10 made him contemplate suicide.
“I said, ‘I don’t want to be special. I want to have arms and legs.’”
“I decided to stay, not knowing what my future would be. Sometimes you might not see hope, but it’s there,” he said. “Don’t give up on you.”
Today, he said, he has traveled the world, built a successful and fulfilling career and is married with two children.
A powerful moment came when Vujicic asked students to close their eyes, raise a hand and clench their fist if they had contemplated suicide, attempted suicide and whether it had been prompted by abuse at home or bullying at school.
In a sea of hands raised by sixth-grade students, some fists silently clenched.
A moment that stands out for June Baker, the teacher who organized the event, is when an eighth-grade student told her that Vujicic’s message resonated with her because she has thought about killing herself.
“It just keeps coming up, ‘This has changed my life,’” Baker said. “It’s shocking how many kids have been bullied or who have thought about taking their life.”
Baker and Randy Ebie, principal at Center, believe these kinds of programs, which have been a focus in recent years, are changing the culture at the middle school.
“If it changes one life, or saves one life, then it is worth it. And it’s already done that,” Baker said.