It’s funny how things come along and how they effect you. Recently two such events came up, the first for Columbus City Schools and the second for a school district on a suburb.
The first was attended by just over 3000 enthusiastic 6th graders just a few days ago. I was tasked to engage these 3000 kids into a message on their benefits of STEM (That would be Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for those of us who have not been around the educational market as of late). I setout to learn and I really enjoyed the process. With the help of Shawn Harper (ex NFL player who is now an inspirational speaker for schools and church groups) and the great team of Jen Snively’s at COSI (one the coolest hands-on science museums in the world!) I started plugging some pieces of this relatively short program together. The result, was one of the most fun programs I’ve had the opportunity of presenting.
Did YOU know that magic is just like science? I didn’t. But the more I read and investigated the greater the connection became clear. Science is solving a mystery and finding out why something happens, what something is or how something happens. When you watch magic, doesn’t your brain go into the “how can that happen” mode? How is that possible? But, unlike science class, your brain also rests on the fact that “of course he can do it, Jon Petz is a magician.”
I had the chance to share with these impressionable kids that I was just like them, that the illusions and tricks they had just seen on stage were through no special powers but through engineering, physics and calculations. I challenged them to NOT believe what they saw on stage, but to discuss it on the bus, back in the classroom, with their teachers etc. But to FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY SAW. Yes, I challenged them to find the secret to my magic – and I felt GREAT about it. I truly hope they were in complex discussions of how the money ended up inside the lemon…..it’s NOT possible…..but it happened…..now HOW did it happen? I hope some of them tried the levitation (through physics) and even the magic number we demonstrated on stage (a basic algebraic equation).
During my research for the event I had learned from them that if you asked Columbus City School 6th graders ‘IF’ they plan to attend college, over 90% of them will raise their hands in agreement. However, just two short years later when asked the same question they lose over 40% of those same hands that were raised just a short time ago. Why is this? What is happening during these critical years in middle school when these great kids lose the belief that THEY belong in college? Unfortunately, it’s an answer that I don’t have in it’s entirety, nor does the school system. But at least the superintendent, Dr. Harris, along with the Ohio State University is doing something about it. I hope that my short message encouraged them to continue their study’s, plans and dreams and allows them to Reach Higher!
I thank Dr. Harris, David Hoover, Nancy Nestor-Baker and the Athletic Department of the Ohio State University for allowing me to be the keynote speaker for such an amazing event. I was touched and enjoyed the experience.