Speaking in front of a group of
people is often noted as one of the top fears of many. Not so for young Rising
Red Hawk, Troy. Troy will be entering 7th
grade when school begins this academic year.
That makes him 12 or 13 years old.
Last Monday night, he did something that I found truly courageous and
awesome – something from which many adults would shrink away. He chose to
attend our local School Board meeting. Not only did he attend, but he stood up
and spoke during the public participation portion held at the beginning of nearly
every open School Board meeting.
In case you have never attended
or watched a live stream of a School Board meeting here’s the setting. You’re
going to walk into a large room with lots of chairs set up (social distancing
space right now). The Board members and District Administrator will be seated
behind tables facing the audience. Even
though Board members try to be as informal as possible, the setting is likely
to seem very formal and even intimidating to many. Anyone from the School District may speak at
the Public Participation / Comment section near the beginning of the meeting.
If you are a speaker, you will be asked to step to a lectern with a microphone,
state your name, etc. and then you will be allowed 3 minutes to address the
Board and the assembled public. So,
there might be as many as 30 or 40 people and you will be standing in front of
them. Additionally, you be video
recorded and live-streamed, so you are likely speaking to many, many more than
that. You are only allowed to speak on issues that are included on the formal
agenda for that particular meeting.
The main topic of last Monday’s
meeting was re-opening plans for the impending school year. A few adults spoke, and then, as is the
custom, Board President, Joe Martin, asked if there were any in the crowd who
had not signed-up but wanted to address the Board. That’s when Troy’s hand went
up. He approached the microphone and then he spoke eloquently and courageously
from his heart. He shared his own personal
experiences and challenges from the last couple of months of last school year.
He was calm, measured, and mature, showing great poise for a young man
beginning 7th grade. He didn’t have an axe to grind, he wasn’t
emotional, he wasn’t over dramatizing. Simply, and effectively, he was congruent
and transparent, speaking from his heart about his own experiences that were
pertinent to the topic at hand. I was
impressed. I know for a fact that several
others were as well.
I am heartened when I see our
Milton young students, products of our schools and the values taught by our outstanding
professional staff members, performing in this way, and participating in our community
building processes.
Thank you, Troy, for investing
your time to share your perspective with our elected officials. This is your
right and your responsibility, and you demonstrated how to do it in an exemplary
manner.
If you would like to take view and hear Troy’s comments, this
link will take you there: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQoXF8Nn2wnlQb6jpc8ZZqQ
After all, Kids Matter
#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON
