BLOG: A New Perspective

By Austin Snyder

The Olivian

Often, an activity period is simply a mid-day break from classes and a chance to socialize with friends.  However, a few weeks ago, the student body at large experienced quite the shock to the system as Mr. Calvin Terrell paid a visit to Oliver Ames. Mr. Terrell is a world-renowned peacemaker on a mission to spread a message of tolerance and understanding. His deep message and powerful oratory engaged the entire auditorium from beginning to end. Never before in my four years at OA have I seen the student body react so strongly to a presentation. The most interesting part was at the beginning of the presentation when Mr. Terrell asked anyone to stand who believed they have been prejudice in their lives. While half the room honestly stood up, the other half, myself included, remained seated believing that we were genuinely free of prejudice. The expressions on students’ faces following the presentation portrayed a sense of enlightenment and grief as we all reflected back throughout our lives and realized that we are not all as innocent as we thought. Some even shed tears.

Mr. Terrell brought to light a history that is often left out of our history books and revealed our essentially racist thoughts through word associations. But Mr. Terrell’s aim is not to make kids feel bad about themselves. He is giving them the “ugly truth” in an effort to rid the world of prejudice that he sees as a source of that is conflict unlike anything else in human history

I also had the chance to attend the second presentation for parents that night. I sat there and watched the most courageous 6th, 7th and 8th graders get up in front of the entire audience to reveal the regretful things they have done or said in the past and say sorry to loved ones they have hurt. It was honestly one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen. Following the presentation I had the chance to speak with Mr. Terrell. He said that his presentation is about more than revealing the prejudice in the world, he wants kids to appreciate everything that they have in life and never take a single thing for granted. He told me that he can only be here for one day, so it is now our duty as “warriors of peace” to keep his message alive in our school and in the community.

My message to the younger grades, especially to the freshman and sophomores is to not take presentations like this for granted. Throughout my four years at OA I have seen my fair share of cliques, putdowns, and backstabbing and I have been on both the giving and receiving end. However, this year I have seen my class come together in a way I don’t think anyone was expecting. My message to you is do not wait until senior year when the thought of graduation and never seeing each other again brings everyone closer together. Take Mr. Terrell’s message for all that it is worth, connect with everyone, have no regrets and make your upcoming years at Oliver Ames the best that they can be.