Are you a WARRIOR?

By Lynn K. McMullin                 


This past week, Canton’s students and parents have had the opportunity to meet with a highly recognized motivational speaker, Mr. Calvin Terrell, to explore the topics of justice and acceptance. Calvin Terrell is the founder of Social Centric, an organization dedicated to creating peace, fighting injustice, and challenging the stereotypes and intolerant behaviors of the young and old alike. Terrell first came to Canton for a two day visit last spring to work with high school students and the student group ‘Be the Change,’ advised by social studies teacher Jennifer Gembala, who also organized each workshop event. Terrell’s visit had such positive impact on the school, we asked him back  in August to speak at our Opening Day Convocation for teachers and to meet with student groups in preparation for this month's week-long visit .



Calvin Terrell began his week with 4 - 6th graders at
Canton Intermediate School.  He ended his week at the high school,
and on Wednesday evening met with parents.


Terrell’s work with our students, which is 100% grant funded, is one facet of Canton’s multi-faceted approach to creating a safe school culture, free of harassment and bullying. Along with Character Counts, CyberSMART, small counseling groups, classroom curriculum, and Advisory group discussions, this week's workshops are aimed at reducing racism, prejudice, hatred, bullying, and violence.



Terrell, (in back), told Middle School students that
being in a clique was OK, everyone wants to have a group
of friends.  But he asked them to consider what kind of energy
their clique brought forward -- love or hate?

 
Terrell begins his workshops with an examination of five different types of people, asking his audience to decide what they want to be. In brief, COWARDS are people who may know what is right, but act, or fail to act, out of fear. They go along with the crowd; they pretend to be something they're not in order to fit in. THUGS create chaos and attempt to feel great by disarming the people around them. Thugs come in all colors and all forms. They hurt people and rationalize that there have always been people who've hurt others in the world.

SOLDIERS are people of action who follow orders. There are good soldiers who try to make a difference, but there are others who hurt people. REBELS use their personal anger to act out against others. They are self-centered and oblivious to others. It’s all about them.

Finally, Terrell points out there are WARRIORS. Warriors are people who follow a sober mind, heart, and spirit. A warrior knows what is right, speaks his/her truth, and lives an authentic life. Terrell explains to his audience that it's the warrior who brings peace, not chaos, to the world.

Terrell asks the students about their own groups or cliques – Together, are you cowards? Thugs? Or warriors? Do you build or tear down? He asks, “How many of you have seen people spread a rumor about someone else? How many people have seen others treat someone in a mean way? How many of you have ever been that kid who's marched around the playground or down the halls and treated someone else that way? What are the things you've been saying to the others in your school?”

“All of our lives will end,” Terrell says, “but my goal is to be remembered as a Warrior, not as one of the other four. How am I living? That's what this short time I have is about -- how do I treat people around me? My enemies, strangers and friends alike?”


MS Principal, Joe Scheideler, worked with students to untie a
human knot as part of a workshop exercise that challenged
kids "get out of the maze of your mind and into the genius of your heart."



During a "Call of Warriors,” Terrell asks if there is anyone who wishes to apologize to someone they may have hurt or excluded. At every session, at least 20 students took the microphone. Some students choose to say their "peace," some specifically apologizing to someone for unkind, even hateful, things they had done in the past. Some choose to thank a warrior friend or family member who helped them in some way. The comments were heartfelt and authentic.

Terrell spent Monday through Thursday, working with students in grades 4 – 12. His work included large group assemblies, team-level sessions, and small group workshops, all of which were planned and organized by Jennifer Gembala.  Terrell, Gembala, and our school community recognize that a week of workshops will not sustain the safe, accepting school culture Canton is trying to attain.  If the impact is to be lasting, the students and teachers need to embrace Terrell's message and find additional vehicles for spreading the positive energy he creates. Thus, part of the students’ responsibilities at each school will be planning how to sustain the ideas Terrell has introduced.

Terrell admits he works tirelessly, like a Warrior would, for his cause which is an end to injustice and hate.  On Monday evening, he spontaneously accompanied Dr. Jordan Grossman to St. Joseph’s College where he spoke to Grossman’s graduate school class. On Wednesday evening, he held a parent community session from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.



After the assembly, a large group of students met with Terrell in the CHS library
to continue the work and discussion begun earlier.



Calvin Terrell is shown here with social studies teacher Jennifer Gembala,
who orchestrated the week-long event.  Both educators used every available minute
to convey a simple message to our students: "Live authentic, hate-free lives."