At the One Event 2020, several One Stone students shared deeply personal stories about moments that have changed their lives. Christian R., a learner in our lab school, took the stage to tell about how One Stone helped him regain a sense of pride – something he once risked to try to fit in with a group of so-called “friends.”
Tonight I am going to share a story that I’d never thought I would share with anyone.
Before I came to One Stone I had a very different life. Bad grades, suspension, and even trouble with the law. You might think that getting suspended or getting detention is bad. Just think about being handcuffed with cold steel and riding in the back of a police car. Then, feeling goosebumps as you sit in the waiting room until it’s your turn to go into the courtroom, to hear your sentence. That’s what I’m here to talk about tonight.
One Stone learner Christian R. speaks about transforming his life during the One Event 2020.
We all like to think that in school people admire those who get the best grades and go to college. Right? Not at the school I came from. The admiration went to who beats who up on the bus? Or, who’s the scariest? That’s what my so called “friends” thought about every day, and I went along with it because I didn’t want anyone to mess with me. I wanted my name out there. This was a very destructive, toxic feeling. I was on track to end up nowhere. Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I fell into the deepest, darkest, hole.
One late night, I was arrested as a suspect for stealing a car. The quiet boy who wasn’t doing well in school was now accused of grand theft auto. This was real. Nothing like school detention. This was a life-changing moment.
Imagine being a mom and receiving a phone call at four o’clock in the morning from a police officer who says, “We have your son in custody.” I think that it could possibly be one of the worst calls a mom could get. I didn’t know it at the time, but as it has played out, I was lucky that night, because it changed my life.
When my mom picked me up from the police station I felt like nothing, like a ghost. I didn’t want to go home – I didn’t feel like I deserved to. I was ready to die. She was in shock. She asked, “Why did you do this?” I said, “I don’t know, “I just want to die.” We drove in silence. When we got home my mom didn’t let me out of her sight. She feared what I would do, and so did I. I was afraid of myself more than anything. I’ve never wanted to reverse time so badly. But, my mom was there for me. This marked the beginning of a change. I wanted to change myself, to prove to my mom that I could be the best son possible. I wanted to be a better person.
I found out about One Stone around Christmas in 2017. I saw a flier. I thought it looked cool and really diverse. It had a photo of the “Create Good” sign that hangs on the wall. I thought, “that’s something I don’t do. But it would be cool to see what that means.” I wanted to create good. I was feeling fresh start vibes. And there’s nothing better than a fresh start.
The next week, I visited One Stone. It felt like another world to me. I kept thinking, this is a school? I saw the Create Good and Embrace Good signs. A little of the old me was thinking, Is this a goody-goody kind of thing? But I knew there must be a story And I desperately wanted to be a part of that story. I wanted to focus on learning and being a better person.
I interviewed for my chance to get in but doubted myself. I was wondering if they checked GPA, or other history because my GPA was pretty bad. Then I got this video:
It was crazy. I felt so good. At that moment I was proud.
I remember walking out of my old school. A couple of my friends asked me where I was going. I was walking to my fresh start. I was taking off my old tattered armor because I didn’t need it anymore. Because at One Stone I felt so welcome immediately.
One Stone is different. It’s different because of the people: the coaches, advisors, volunteers, and students who really care. They wanted to know me and made an effort to find out who I really was and who I wanted to be. They believed in me and I was inspired. I was inspired to try. To learn, to dive in.
In the spring after getting settled into One Stone, my court date arrived. Unfortunately, court never leaves you. It took me right back to the night I never wanted to think about again. I talked to the judge about how I was changing my life. I told the judge about One Stone, and how we make students better leaders and the world a better place. The judge took this into account, and my sentencing was light and fair. I was grateful to be judged for the person I was becoming, not the person I had been.
When I returned from court, I felt held by One Stone – lifted up. I loved that no one was talking to me about doing any bad stuff. The kids at One Stone were talking about things that teenagers should be talking about. Things like passions, college, music, and doing good. I loved how I felt at One Stone – I felt like I was healing.
The following September, the whole school went on a two-day trip together. We did a community building exercise called one-minute life stories. I didn’t want to share my story, because by then it sounded so crazy. I didn’t want to share my story that night, but tonight, I did. Because of this: PRIDE.
I’m so proud of myself. It's amazing to know that no matter what background you come from, or how hard you think your life is, you can make it. You can do anything, even when the chips are down. There are no limits to learning, and I have no limits. Anything is possible for me.
At this point in his speech, as many people in the Grand Ballroom at the Boise Centre reached for tissues to dab their eyes, Christian asked his mom to stand. As he presented her with a bouquet of roses, they embraced – and the crowd quickly stood to give them standing ovation. Christian’s story about his own moment of pride had transformed into a moment of connection, not only with his mother, but with everyone in the room. It was yet another example of the power of moments.
Thank you, Christian, for sharing your story with us. We are proud you’re part of our One Stone family.
