|
Story of tragedy, redemption should be heard by all
To the editor:
On Friday, May 6, 2005 as a representative of Brighter Days Foundation, I attended a presentation at Gorham High School. The speaker was a gentleman named Robert "Bob" Lapete, Founder of Second Chance and Recovery, Inc. (SCAR). It is my understanding that Bob grew up in Berlin. His story, as he tells it, is of his own youth, the choices he made to drink and drive, and the resulting consequences.
As he opens his presentation, he is quick to point out the he, "sounds like a drunk" when he speaks (due to brain damage). His face and body are noticeably damaged as he moves across stage, telling his story. Yet he presents his program with such grace, humor and heart that he manages, without a doubt, to make a lasting impression on every single young man and woman in that high school audience. Their silent focus, the laughter an the perfect times and applause throughout and at the end of the presentation showed how moved these students were by what he had to say, and how he presented it. His story of tragedy moves on to a testament of the human spirit and of redemption.
I can't remember when I have ever been so moved. He held an entire audience of 200 students completely mesmerized by his story of tragedy and recovery. One could hear a pin drop, and I was sitting in the bleachers among all of the students. I did not see or hear a "snicker", a "sneer" or a negative comment of any kind. This presentation, viewed one day before their high school prom, may well save the lives of more than one young person on prom night.
I feel blessed to have been a part of such a profound day in the lives of these young people, and I believe every parent and child should spend one hour of their lives listening to Bob tell his story, and the sooner, the better.
Barbara L. Martin Conway NH
|
