9 minute read
The Speech
Amal and her family had come here from England to live. Her dad was a professor at a university. Her mother was a nurse and worked in a local hospital. Amal was a quiet young girl. She never had many friends in the UK, and here she was going to a new school and having to adjust to life in a different country. It seemed like a lot to ask of her, but her mother and father were understanding, loving and caring when it came to Amal’s happiness. They supported her each and every day.
School was okay. Amal did not talk to many students, and when she did it was either to ask a question about the location of a classroom or ask a teacher to explain an assignment. She was smart and astute and was getting good grades so far. She most enjoyed her Civics class and excelled in that class. Amal and the teacher would have conversations and discussions about world governments and how to be a good citizen and much more. Amal
The Speech
felt comfortable talking to Mr. Heers since he too had moved from the UK only three short years before Amal and her family.
Mr. Heers was also the club faculty sponsor for the Social Studies Club. He encouraged Amal to join and sit in on the meetings one day a week. She reluctantly did and found that she was making friends. Amal was still quiet and reserved, but now she was well-liked by many of the students in the club too.
It was time for the election of Student Council officers for the school year. Student Council was the group of students that worked with the student body, teachers and administrators to make student life the best it could be. The president was pivotal in making things happen for the students. The person elected as the president would have to be a role model and leader of the school. Her new friend from the Social Studies Club, Justyna, told Amal she should run for the office of president.
“Amal, you would be such a great leader for the student body,” Justyna told her. “All you have to do is make a speech and tell everyone what you will try to do for us this year.”
Amal looked perplexed.
“A speech? Who would I give the speech to? The principal and Mr. Heers?” questioned a horrified Amal.
Justyna giggled and said, “No silly. You would give the speech in front of the entire school. You would be great at it!”
Amal stood frozen. The thought of making a speech in front of the entire student body and teachers frightened her. After all she was new to this school. Maybe everyone would “boo” her or maybe she would have stage fright and words would not come out of her mouth.
Amal looked at her friend and groaned, “Justyna, I cannot make a speech in front of everyone!”
Justyna encouraged Amal again. “Sure you can, and it will be the coolest speech any candidate has ever made because I will help you and stand with you the whole time.”
The next week was campaign week. Justyna and Amal made lots of posters and handed out flyers and candy bars to everyone. Justyna did all the talking, while Amal stood to the side and smiled and answered questions. Amal’s mind was on making the speech on Friday.
She and Justyna wrote a speech and asked Mr. Heers to proof read it and make any suggestions he felt would help Amal. He was impressed by the speech and did not find anything he felt would make it better. Amal read it out loud to Mr. Heers and Justyna. Her legs and arms shook from nerves and her voice cracked a few times. Mr. Heers encouraged Amal to keep practicing at home in front of a mirror. She did just that, but still those nerves persisted.
Amal thought that Friday seemed to show up quickly. She dressed nicely as she always did and walked to the podium to be introduced along with the other officer candidates. She and Bergen West were the only two running for president. Bergen was already president of the honor roll club and the Key Club. Bergen gave his speech, and everyone roared with applause. It was Amal’s turn. She looked out into the audience as her name was announced. She stood up and started walking towards the podium.
Create your own ending to this story.
Create Your Own Ending Work Vignettes
Customer Service
Richard worked at a small copy shop with his friend Lindsay. They would spend the day helping customers with their orders, making copies, and printing banners and signs. The copy shop also had a small coin operated copy machine for customers who had to make only a few simple black and white copies.
One day during their shift, an older man entered the store. He went to the register where Lindsay was working with a dollar bill in his hand.
“I need change for a dollar!” he barked.
“Yes, sir. No problem,” Lindsay said, handing the man his change.
The man shuffled over to the coin operated copier, grumbling, with a file folder under his arm.
Richard was at the computer station and gave a look with his eyebrows raised to Lindsay. She shrugged and went on with her work duties.
Soon there was a commotion as the man let out a curse and banged on the copier. Looking red with frustration, the man headed over to the register again.
Richard could see the man yelling at Lindsay over the copier malfunction. It seemed as if the man blamed Lindsay for making him late and messing up his copies. Lindsay was trying to calm the man down but was getting visibly upset due to the man’s harshness.
Richard was trained to give excellent customer service, and he understood that the man could be having an off day. He needed to calm the man down but was not sure what to do.
Create your own ending to this story.
Mercedes was busy reorganizing a shelf at the bookstore where she worked when the door chimed. She leaned out from behind the bookshelf to see Mrs. Miller, one of the store’s best customers, come in with her younger daughter, Lilly. Lilly was four years old and loved coming to the store with her mom to look at the new picture books.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Miller, Lilly,” Mercedes said with a smile.
“Hello Mercedes. I just came in for the new crime drama book that everyone is talking about,” Mrs. Miller said.
“The one based on the true unsolved case?” Mercedes asked.
“Yes, I just love a good thriller,” Mrs. Miller said.
“Oh, it’s a great read. Here let me show you where to find it,” Mercedes offered.
“That would be great. Thank you,” Mrs. Miller said.
As Mercedes led Mrs. Miller to the new releases section, she noticed Lilly hanging by checkout counter where the store had some small packages of mints and gum for sale.
After bringing Mrs. Miller to the book, Mercedes turned to see Lilly putting a shiny tin of mints into her coat pocket and head towards the children’s section.
Mercedes was surprised. Lilly always behaved well when in the store. Maybe she just liked the tin that the mints were in, Mercedes thought.
Mercedes was unsure of what to do next. She could not let Lilly take the mints without paying, but at the same time she did not want to upset or offend one of the store’s best customers.
Create your own ending to this story.
The Broken Frame
It was a busy day at the frame shop where Lisa worked after school. She was in the back putting together an extravagant wood frame for an oil painting that was over fifty years old.
“How’s it coming there?” Bob, the store owner, asked.
“Good so far. It just needs to be handled delicately. I don’t want to force it and risk damaging the painting,” Lisa replied confidently.
“Just like I say - take it slow and steady with those big frames,” Bob said with encouragement.
“Yes sir!” Lisa said.
As Bob went to the front of the store to help a customer, Lisa heard her phone chirp. She knew from the sound that she received a text message.
Lisa was excited to see if it was her friend Paula. They had plans to go see the new comedy movie after Lisa got off work, but only if Paula was able to get tickets. Since it was released, the movie had been sold out.
Lisa reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Opening the message, Lisa saw that Paula had been able to get two tickets for a showing that night.
Lisa was ecstatic; the movie starred one of her favorite actors, and she had wanted to see the film since it was released. She pumped her arm in excitement and felt something move behind her. Then there was a loud crash.
Lisa turned to see the frame had fallen from the work area and onto the floor, broken in pieces. Bob heard the commotion and came running to the back.
“Lisa, what was that? Are you okay?”
Lisa went pale. She knew the frame and painting were expensive. Her mind raced. She did not want Bob to get angry. She thought about telling him the truth or saying the frame fell off on its own as she was going to get some tools.
Create your own ending to this story.
Courage Challenge
Are you ready to test this character strength for yourself?
Choose from one of these challenges. Keep a daily anecdotal record of what you do and what the response of others is to your exhibition of courage. At the end of one week, prepare a personal reflection about the experience to share with the class or small group.
Courage is when people are willing to make progress, grow and learn. We all have courage within us, but sometimes it is more difficult than other times to exhibit it. For one week, keep a journal each day of when you showed courage. Did you learn something new? Did you make positive progress in a situation that you thought was impossible? Reflect on your journal entries and share with a small group of students in your class.
Think of one thing that you have been frightened of or hesitant to do in school or at work. Write a short essay telling how you can find the courage to accomplish that which you are finding to be an impossible task. Once you have written the essay, find the courage to accomplish the task. Share your story with others and tell them of your courageous accomplishment.
Rate Your Courage Challenge Performance:
5 – AWESOME! 4 – Pretty Great 3 – Task Accomplished 2 – Could Have Done Better 1 – Need a Redo
Science Kids http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/lion.html
Easy Science for Kids – All About Lions http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-lions/
National Geographic Kids https://www.natgeokids.com/au/discover/animals/general-a nimals/10-lion-facts/#!/register
