A Class Act

Feb 28th, 2008 2:50 PM EST
By Katie Andrews, ONE Regional Field Organizer

Some of you may remember the posts earlier this year describing the work of teacher Matt Cone at Rock Bridge High School. Well, Matt continues to do amazing work with his students and this week the seniors in his Contemporary Issues class had the unique experience of talking with the First Lady via video conference.

Many of the questions posed dealt with the President and Mrs. Bush’s recent trip to Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the work that ONE and other NGOs are doing to help the world’s poor. As if talking to the First Lady was not cool enough, the students wore ONE shirts to emphasize their commitment to ending global poverty and disease.

Check out some of the student comments about the experience after the jump.

-Katie Andrews, Field Organizer (KS, OH, MI, MO, WV)

Being an exchange student from Finland I have never experienced how people of so different backgrounds and with so different beliefs just are able to work together for a greater cause. Just thinking about the mix of cultures and beliefs that our group was made up of, and realizing how differently we all see the world was incredible. Sitting in that classroom with other students, teachers and even our school’s principal, almost everybody wearing a ONE t-shirt, listening to Laura Bush made a huge impact on me. And yet, there we were, talking about HIV/AIDS and trying to understand the importance of fighting this pandemic. Uskomatonta (Unbelievable)!

-Natasha Nurmi

The fight against global poverty is surely a daunting task and will be the definitive issue of our generation. It is complex with no single, simple solution. But with more celebrities, volunteers, politicians, students, and nations joining the cause everyday, we can succeed. Twenty minutes of Mrs. Bush’s time was another small step towards this monumental task. While twenty minutes may seem short, Mrs. Bush’s example prompted a dialogue among us students that will continue far past this week. It will amplify poverty awareness among students and take the cause in new and innovative directions. Conversations are the necessary building blocks for change and have the ability to inspire people and encourage action. Most of all they create solidarity among those attacking poverty from different angles. It’s this social dialogue that will ultimately destroy poverty.

-Chase Hrdina

The time and advice Mrs. Bush gave us was definitely appreciated. I think it is so cool that she realizes the potential of high school students. Our age group is usually overlooked because we are seen as moody and unreliable, but Mrs. Bush looks at us differently. I am glad that such a high-ranking woman understands the potential teenagers hold and the importance of getting us involved in helping with the world’s problems.
-Kelsey Eckenrode

Generally, every time we talk to someone and ask them the same question, we get the same response: “Oh, well, I think that it’s just great that you guys are interested in AIDS/Darfur/(insert issue here).” Well, Mrs. Bush said that she’s been to Africa five times, and each time she goes there, she sees improvement. She then said that she is proud that American kids what to help–She’s proud of us! I think that’s really cool! The entire idea behind speaking with Mrs. Bush was intoxicating. During the video conference, I kept thinking to myself, “I can not believe that Laura Bush is having a conversation with us!” She said that we look at huge problems and we think that we can’t address them. But we can. All problems are difficult; it’s hard to get anti-retroviral drugs to people who need them, but their standard of living is drastically increased with the drugs. I think that with continued perseverance, people will win the battle with AIDS. It’s so encouraging and inspiring to be reminded that there are very powerful people out there who care about the same issues that I do; people who others will listen to, people who are influential. I never cease to be amazed how these leaders are willing to talk to a group of kids in the middle of Missouri. But I guess when people like the First Lady tell you that they’re proud that you’re involved and that you care about an issue, it’s easier to believe that we can change the world.
-Samantha Eiffert

Getting to hear from Laura Bush was to me, a once in a life time opportunity. Hearing her views on her experiences in Africa were interesting, because I’ve never been out of the United States. Many of the things she said, for example, about how poverty and poor water supplies were the main sources of the spread of disease in Africa were very similar to a few things we’ve read about in Mountains Beyond Mountains. In a way Laura Bush reminds me of Paul Farmer because they both have the same passion to continue to help people who are less fortunate than us. It was a real eye opening experience to get more information on something we are learning about and be able to connect what Laura Bush was saying to things that I had learned in class.
-April Myers

Bram Sable-Smith (who spent the last two years in the United World Colleges program in Swaziland) Mitch Besser of mothers2mothers dedicates all of his working time towards the mothers program, however a president or a first lady cannot do that. They cannot champion one cause only because they must be the champions of all causes. We should be stoked that one of these champions of all causes has designated a significant amount of time to our cause, and even a small portion of that to us.

Having Mrs. Bush talk to us was, well, awesome. Who can actually say, “Oh yeah, so, today in school, we talked to the First Lady on the phone?” She was really down to earth. But personally, I think the best part about the whole conversation was that not ONCE did ANYTHING come to politics or different views. I didn’t feel tension in the room from the different parties, we were all there for ONE reason (please excuse the pun). It was really refreshing. I am so lucky to be surrounded by young minds that all want better for our world, and I am grateful for getting the opportunity to talk to people who have really gone out there and made a difference, like Mitch Besser, Paul Farmer and Mrs. Bush.
-Alex Harrison

Yesterday, at my high school, we had our first ever video conference. It was in a classroom of about 100 kids. The astounding thing about that is that the conference was with Laura Bush. It was quite amazing to be a part of that. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about everything she said. And when we asked her how to help, she encouraged us by saying that just by keeping up on the times and caring that that was a start. Then, by acting on the care, we would be able to help immensely in Africa.
-Lauren Orscheln

TAGS: First Lady Laura Bush, High School, Students