Hey Miss Kara, Why do you have that Ferris wheel on your shelf?
Life is like a ferris wheel. Everything is going great when you’re at the very top and you’re swinging your feet. That might be when you received a promotion, have great health, you’re the star ballplayer, your making good money, whatever your top may be. You have a great view and feel in awe swinging your feet. And you look down at the bottom seat whose feet are touching the ground and you think I’ll never sit in that seat. That could be you were fired, you sit on the bench in ball, you have AIDS, your husband/wife is cheating on you, your child was just born with a disability, you have just made a terrible choice which impacts you negatively, whatever your low may be. (No one wants to have the low seats, for this is when you are low in life and dragging your feet on the ground, for you wish to have the highest seats, flying and soaring above the others.) Sometimes those people sitting at the top point fingers and judge and say they will never be sitting on those low, bottom seats. But then, the wheel flips around, and there you sit. It is in that seat that you learn… Kara Ford
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Final Words to all my 8th graders
I want to thank you for always treating me with the upmost respect and letting me share a part of your lives. I am proud of you, you are all so unique & amazing, and I love you. I look at you all like I do my own children, and that will never change. I have students in high school and in college now that still call me when they need me. That offer is the same for each of you. I will always be here for you no matter what stage in life you are in. I want you to know that God has a big plan for each one of your lives tonight. Also know, people who tell you life is easy are not being honest with you. In this life, there will be some people that will hurt you, try to take you down, and try to keep you from achieving your goals. Whenever this happens, I want you to know to always believe in yourself , stand tall, and know the beautiful soul you are. Never listen to anyone who tells you that you’re not enough, even if that person is yourself. Remember the real truth which is that you were wonderfully and fearfully made. As you enter high school, keep your guard up and know that there will be kids that will try to offer you things that could potentially destroy your life such as drugs. Also know that the coolest people I have ever met are confident, & brave enough to stand for what is right even if the majority does not. I have no doubt that we will hear the names of some of you who will make it big and no matter where your journey takes you, as long as you love yourself and are good to others, then you will have made it. By making it, whether you finish college or choose a different path, you have made it when you make an honest living, provide for your family, and help others. When you treat people with kindness and love you will win every time. Also know, you are going to make mistakes & that is ok. You need to try to learn from each one and use it to make you better and wiser. I have made some myself that I have had to pay dearly for, learn from and try to use to be better. I leave you with a final moment that I have taught you in class, but as a reminder… When I worked for the court program, I had a 16 year old referred to me for using drugs and making meth. Yes I said a 16 year old making meth… I remember he came in and had a rough and tough attitude. He said” listen lady, not you, the judge, or anyone will get me to quit drugs. I have done them with my papaw since I was 8 and I won’t stop now.” This was along with some words, I cannot use in front of you. I kindly listened and let him tell me all about himself. I began to take sentences that he used and I found the positive in all I could and began praising him for each positive I could find. After around 15 minutes, he said I like you and thanks for being nice to me. I then said “I have a question for you”. He looked at me and said “yeah”. I proceeded with “Will you let me fight for you?” He said “what do you mean?” I said because tomorrow I will be in a staff meeting and I will have 4 people betting you won’t make it, can I please sit on the other side of the table and place my bet in that you will?” He looked at me with the coolest, toughest yet most humble smile and said “let’s roll”. I then told him I needed him to pass every drug test, and if he did his part that I would fight for him and that he had no worries of being sent off to a juvenile facility. Over a span of 6 months, I watched a child who had a drug addiction and rough life, pass every single drug screen I gave to him. What did it take? Hard work, 2:00 am phone calls, weekend visits, and above all of these…LOVE…Why do I tell you this, because If you love and believe in others and yourself, you cannot lose. In closing, my love for each of you has no measures because to the moon and back still does not radiate its strength. As I tell my own children, give to the world and the world will give back because you my children, you are changing the world… All My Love, Miss Kara
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The OVercomer Award...
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