Unique Presentation.

By Alaina Williams, age 13.

Good morning. My name is Alaina. Mr. Petersen asked me to share with you today how I believe the principles of the NO BARRIERS EDUCATION FOUNDATION have affected my life and how they may impact my life, or any child's life, in the future.

Everyone talks about kids "reaching for the stars" or "making it to the top", but, from what I've seen, very few people really explain what that means or how to get there. I think that the principles of the No Barriers Education Foundation are like steps on a staircase and it's a lot easier for kids to "make it to the top" if we're shown some strong, solid steps to take.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF/BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS: I am a very special person…I'm no MORE special than any of you, but I am special, I am unique. I'm here on this earth for a reason, a purpose, just as all of you are here for a reason and a purpose. When you truly believe in yourself and your worthiness, then it's very easy to take the next step of believing in your dreams, but first, you must believe in yourself. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF/BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS are principles of the No Barriers Education Foundation.

DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE: When I was younger, I competed in 4 years of competitive gymnastics. One year I was the absolute worst one on my team. So every day for 7 months I practiced and worked for hours, and when meet season started in December… I was still the worst one on my team! I think I scored 55th place in one of my meets that year. I kept slipping off the uneven bars, falling off beam, landing on my rear during a floor routine…it was really embarrassing. But I had a couple of coaches who kept encouraging me at every practice. And at the end of that season in May, at the State meet for my level, I won gold for beam, gold for floor and the 1st place State All Round Gymnast. And if they given out a medal for most bruises in one season, I know I would have deserved that ! But I especially think that my coaches should have won a gold medal because they hadn't cared that I wasn't Olympic material, they had cared about me, the person, and had helped me learn how to dig deep within myself and persevere. That was a life lesson that I will never forget - DETERMINATION AND PERSEVERANCE are principles of the No Barriers Education Foundation…

SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FELLOW MAN Neal Petersen writes in his autobiography that it's just as easy to say a kind word as it is to say a harsh one, but look at all the good you can do with a kind, encouraging word and helpful, supportive actions. The coaches that I just mentioned are examples of this.

I don't believe that "education" is the biggest problem in America today, I have to tell you, honestly, that I believe the biggest problem that I see is people not respecting or having empathy for one another…and this especially includes kids. I see so many kids being critical of one another, putting each other down, groups deliberately ostracizing someone and even being cruel and hateful. And every day I see adults stand by and ignore this type of behavior. But, I've also been in groups where the adult would NOT allow kids to treat each other in a negative way and it didn't take long at all for the kids to start appreciating one another and coming together like a team. SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FELLOW MAN is a principle of the No Barriers Foundation

FOR EVERY SUCCESS FORWARD…GIVE BACK For my whole life, I've been a really shy person. A year ago the minister at my church asked me to speak to our congregation. I didn't know if I could do it, but I knew I wanted to try. So last May, I gave my 6 minute Mother's Day message and at the end of it I discovered something…I was still breathing. And I discovered something else. That I liked it…I actually enjoyed speaking in public. I had finally conquered some of my shyness! That was a big success for me. But was it enough that I succeeded? Not really. Because success is about what you DO with it. True success is about giving back. So I now work with a program at MUSC in which I help severely anxiety ridden children to overcome their extreme shyness. To help them know that they are special; to help them learn how to let their light shine. FOR EVERY SUCCESS FORWARD… GIVE BACK is a principle of the No Barriers Foundation.

SELF DISCIPLINE - SETTING GOALS These two principles aren't favorites of most kids because they sound too much like work, but I've learned that self discipline, setting goals and achieving your goals are what help you to recognize your power. Without them, you could live your whole life and never know just how capable and powerful you really are.

Each school year I challenge myself to a book reading goal. This year my goal was to read 115 books; 1 non-fiction for every 2 fiction. As of this morning I'm on book 105. And even if I don't make my goal, I feel I've accomplished a lot by trying. SELF DISCIPLINE …SETTING GOALS are principles of the No Barriers Foundation.

TAKING A PART IN DIRECTING YOUR OWN EDUCATION One of the mission statements that we follow in my family is this: "I AM MY BEST TEACHER, I AM ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING, RETAINING AND IMPLEMENTING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I RECEIVE." In other words, I'm allowed to have help… teachers, mentors, but what I'm NOT allowed to have is excuses. The greatest people in history took initiative and responsibility for their life, no matter what their background or circumstances. TAKING A PART IN DIRECTING YOUR OWN EDUCATION is a principle of the No Barriers Foundation.

And finally, LIVE EACH DAY TO THE UTMOST. Live each day with passion, for passion is the fuel that will carry you to your dream. But if you allow negative thinking to rule your life, that is the same as siphoning off your fuel. My passion in life is ARCHEOLOGY. I love studying about Ancient Civilizations and I plan on being an archeologist one day. And so to end, I have chosen an Ancient Sanscrit poem which speaks to this principle and to the message of Neal Petersen:

LOOK TO THIS DAY - FOR IT IS LIFE

THE VERY LIFE OF LIFE

WITHIN ITS BRIEF COURSE LIE ALL THE REALITIES AND TRUTHS OF EXISTENCE

THE JOY OF GROWTH

THE GLORY OF ACTION

THE SPLENDOR OF BEAUTY

FOR YESTERDAY IS ALREADY A MEMORY AND TOMORROW IS ONLY A VISION

BUT TODAY WELL LIVED, MAKES EVERY YESTERDAY A MEMORY WORTH REMEMBERING

AND EVERY TOMORROW A VISION OF HOPE

LOOK WELL, THEREFORE, TO THIS DAY