'Heroes in training' get inspirational lessons

SANDPOINT — A hero is someone who has "strength for two," and a hero worth following "takes ownership for everything and everyone around them."

"A hero worth following takes ownership for everything and everyone around them," said John Williams, founder and president of Life that Counts, Inc. "A hero is prepared to lead."

Preparing the Farmin-Stidwell Elementary students to lead was Williams' goal Friday as he taught them what it means to be a hero. He was in town last week to kick off the students' 21-day compassion challenge. A few students from each grade — for a total of about 60 — were chosen to go through the "hero training," which is a student-led, faculty facilitated challenge designed to "spread the ideas of servitude and compassion across a school's campus."

The students were divided into groups and each student given a journal to keep track of their progress over the next three weeks. For Friday's mission, each group had to brainstorm ideas of how to help others, then pick one goal to work on over the course of 21 days.

One group, for example, which included sixth-graders Tristan Anderson and Landen Lindberg, and fourth-graders Jetta Thaete and Jacey Rust, decided they want to help students who are struggling in class. Some specific things the group said they could help with is reading, math and handwriting, as well as how to get along with others.

Another group — third-grader Bayah Ratigan, fifth-grader Ayla Lyons and sixth-grader Chloe Chapman — plan to do random acts of kindness each day. Random acts of kindness can include anything from opening a door or picking up trash, to helping out someone who is having a bad day. 

"It's going to be awesome to see what these kids can do and if they are going to be able to carry this out," said Farmin-Stidwell Principal Erik Olson.

Olson said he looks at it as a "pay it forward" challenge as well, because if the kids pay it forward and continue to do so throughout their lives, they will not only make their lives better by the choices they make, they will also make the school and the community a better place.

Williams, of Alabama, grew up in an environment of poverty and abuse. He never met his father and uses his own life stories to inspire the children he speaks with to show compassion toward others. According to his website, lifethatcounts.org, Life that Counts is a "calculated experiment to help navigate one of the most epidemic issues facing humanity today — helping the next generation think better about the choices they make today and how those decisions affect their future outcomes."

He travels to schools across the country, teaching kids to take ownership over their own lives, to be intentional in their influence. If, for example, someone sees another person in line at the store only has an item or two and lets that person go ahead of them, they are intentional in their influence, Williams said.

"A hero worth following is aware of their influence," he told the kids.

The kids surprised Williams at the end of the training as they recited the school's "Wolf Pack Pledge."

"I am somebody. I was somebody when I came. I'll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education that I get here. I have things to do, people to impress and places to go," the students said in perfect unison, ending the pledge with a long howl before heading off to begin their 21-day mission.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.