If you believe in something, go for it.
That was the message Olympian Sarah Wells told Scott Creek middle school students Thursday to inspire them to take action.
And judging by all the enthusiastic cheers from the hundreds of Grade 6, 7, and 8 students, the message was heeded.
Wells, a 400 m hurdler who launched the Believe Institute, visited the Coquitlam school this year, encouraging students to take on passion projects that would make the world a better place. For several weeks, the students worked on their ideas, and this week the project concluded with presentations and a rousing rally.
“It doesn’t have to end just because the project is over,” Wells, told students who attended the fair from several School District 43 middle schools.
Ariana Shamsuddin, a Grade 8 student, said she was inspired to do a compassion challenge after she heard Well’s pep talk about how she managed to overcome obstacles to compete in the Olympic games.
Shamsuddin also overcame several obstacles to encourage her fellow classmates to do one good thing every day in her Compassion Challenge. First she had to remind them to do the good deed, then do them herself every day for 10 days, and finally, she had to present to students during the Believe Inspirational Fair.
“I don’t really feel comfortable talking in front of strangers,” Shamsuddin said.
It’s hard to believe in this day and age of political correctness that politeness and consideration is on the decline. But Shamsuddin thinks it is and that’s why she wanted to do the Compassion Challenge.
“If we don’t build good habits now, when will we ever,” said Shamsuddin, describing how she sees rudeness everyday in traffic, when people honk for almost no reason, and pedestrians and drivers don’t always politely share the road.
“No one has good manners any more,” she noted.
With her project, Shamsuddin wanted to encourage her fellow students to be more considerate, such as paying someone a compliment or opening the door for them.
Some students took part, and others did not, but Shamsuddin didn’t let that get her down.
Thanks to Wells’ encouragement, the teen said she now understands that you sometimes have to work extra hard and keep persevering if you want to change the world.
“I know I have the power to make an impact on everyone — even if it’s just me.”
