I spent a very busy day speaking to groups of sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Mary Potter Middle School in Oxford, NC. Rocio & I walked three miles to connect the steps to downtown Oxford. I was plucked off the route to speak to the Girls on The Run group (grades 3-5) in nearby Stovall, and at the end of the day, I spoke to a group of pre-teens at Oxford’s Boys and Girls Club. Busy day– somewhat exhausting– but ironically, empowering as well– I love it!!
The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage
Breakfast is served at The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage
Eddie & Pam Dalton, owners of The Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage, are treating Rocio & me to a pair of nights at their FABULOUS inn– delicious breakfast included!!!
Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School
Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School
Well, I can’t expect them all to like it!
I eat a lot of different trail mixes on the road, leaning heavily toward raw, and without any added sugars or salts.
This afternoon, when the sixth-graders at Oxford’s Mary Potter Middle School asked me what I eat, in the interest of satisfying all senses, I decided to go ahead and allow them to pass around, open, examine and smell a unique packet of trail mix I was carrying. The combo of goldenberries, goji mulberries and cacao nibs were quite foreign to them– and I LOVED the reactions they gave me!!
8th graders at Mary Potter Middle School– they’re AWESOME!!
Across the miles, I’ve learned that K-12 students–especially as they grow older–don’t simply want to be preached to or lectured, they want to be entertained. Entertaining them while simultaneously making the effort to do something educational and inspirational is much easier said than done. That said, I feel like each extra group I speak to, I learn a little bit more, making more progress in the process. As a result, after first speaking to 6th and 7th grades yesterday, I feel 8th grade (shown here), at the end of the day, was the most effective interaction of them all. Especially given that the 8th grade group was about three times the size of the 6th grade group, this made for a perfect progression of yesterday’s appearances at Oxford’s Mary Potter Middle School. 
Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School
Coach is a very inspiring man who has been guiding kids well for 30 years now. He’s about to retire on to the next phase of life 
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Speaking to the outstanding students of Mary Potter Middle School
Wonderful teachers at Mary Potter Middle School– I so enjoyed speaking to all of your classes!
Among a handful of personalized pics with students
Among a handful of personalized pics with students
Among a handful of personalized pics with students
Among a handful of personalized pics with students
Walking through Oxford, NC
Walking through Oxford, NC
The Girls on the Run club of neighboring Stovall.
Students from the Girls on the Run club ask for personalized written messages. I had barely enough time (a couple of hours) to fill out personalized messages (Strength! Peace! Light! Love!) to each of them.
Boys & Girls Club of Oxford
Boys & Girls Club of Oxford
Dinner with Lovely Rocio.
We’re arm wrestling over something– I forget exactly what– LOL!