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Speaker urges FSHS students to be positive
Students at Fort Scott High School received an educational, entertaining surprise Thursday morning.
Several students, faculty members and staff members packed the FSHS gymnasium to hear a presentation by Ryan Moran, a motivational speaker from Indianapolis, Ind. Moran told humorous stories and recalled some of his own life experiences as he talked to students about having a positive attitude and how they have the ability to make a difference in their lives each day.
"You gotta be positive," Moran told students. "Your attitude decides how your day is gonna go, and no one determines your attitude but you."
Moran's appearance was organized by the GEAR UP program at FSHS, a program FSHS contracted through Neosho County Community College, according to Jamie Stucky, a coordinator for the program.
GEAR UP Grant Program Director Brenda Armstrong said organizers chose to book Moran to speak at the high school at the request of a group of seniors at FSHS who first heard Moran speak at a leadership workshop last year in Illinois.
"When we asked them about bringing him here, they said 'oh yes, please bring him," Armstrong said.
Moran interacted with students and encouraged various responses from students throughout his presentation. At one point during his talk, Moran rapped along with students as the students -- whom he divided into sections -- gave preplanned responses such as waving their arms or making vocal sounds at different times during the performance.
The purpose of the exercise was to show students what can be accomplished when they use their talents to work together as a unit, Moran said.
"You were using your talents and working together for the betterment of the group," he told students.
Another portion of the presentation involved Moran using two blindfolded student volunteers to demonstrate how the "fear of the unknown" can keep many people from trying new things.
"I challenge them to have the courage to be open to new ideas, thoughts, events and people," Moran said on his website, www.heavypenguins.com. "I show them that when they treat all people with sincerity and encourage the talents and spirits of others, great things can happen."
Moran, an alumnus of the University of Missouri, has been speaking professionally since 2004 and has given presentations at numerous schools across the United States. His presentations cover several topics he considers important for students, including the benefits of being positive, open and sincere, increasing school spirit, and not being exclusive.
GEAR UP, which is funded by the United States Department of Education, is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.