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A Day in the life of the I BELIEVE Program
I watch the road markers as once again I travel down that road to another unknown destination, another town another program.
I remember as I took the call for this program. Her name was Mrs. Meshaya, she was a teacher from Antlers Public schools. She had received a Muskogee Phoenix Newspaper from a friend of hers that had an article about The I BELIEVE program in it. She was calling from Antlers Oklahoma, a town about 169 miles to the south of Tahlequah. The calls that come in usually have the same type of questions, what do I do, what ages do I speak to, how much do I charge and how long is my program? Although the places I travel to are always different, the roads and highways I travel along the way all seem to look the same. The trees, stores and homes I pass all seem to have the same picture to me as I pass them. I often wonder to myself, as I meet people. Do they know that this stranger they are seeing was brought in to try and make a difference, to reach one more youth, change one more life? I travel down that road, not sure of where I am going, whom I will be in front of, how many there will be, or what type of setting I will be in.
The morning started for me at 5:30 a.m., as I got outside and started loading up my platform and bricks and all the other supplies I will need for this days presentation, program, performance, however you see it. It’s dark all around, with hardly any other cars on the road at this hour. Even though I have made plans for someone to be with my girls this morning, I still don’t like the fact that once again, I am leaving them behind, back in Tahlequah, so I won’t see them off to school today.
Sometimes my mind wonders back to when all this started, how it started, and why it started. The comment once was made to me, "where do you think all of this will go"?
Well, if you believe in what you do strong enough, and are willing to make the sacrifices, you too might be surprised where you road will lead you.
Sometimes 1000 to 2000 students a week I am in front of, speaking my heart out to. Does it make a difference? Is it all worth it? The scars I have, the broken bones I have endured, and the countless sacrifices I have gone through? I ask myself that time to time too. Then I get an email, a letter, or sometime just those positive comments from the people that I have just presented to, and yes I think, it’s all worth it to get that feeling I am making a difference.
I leave this morning, before many of you are even out of that nice warm bed you are in, not really sure if you appreciate what you have there in your home, and family, as I leave mine behind. Oh I’ve heard time and time again, how some wish they had a gravy job like I do. Where they could travel and do nothing else but have fun and speak to the kids in the schools. I smile sometimes without making comments back, knowing the real truth. As I listen to my tires meet that road once again, I smile to myself, I wouldn’t have it any other way, this life that has been chosen for me, I love it.
So the next time you see my on that road, all loaded down and on my way to another school, community, event, wave a friendly wave, smile a friendly smile of encouragement. Who knows, I may be on my way to a school or community where your child, family member, or friend is, and maybe just maybe make a positive change or direction in their lives. After all we all need that encouragement from our friends and family.
And if you ever want to see what it’s like, this I BELIEVE program, just give me a call, I’d love to have some company sometime.
BRIAN JACKSON, AKA " I BELIEVE GUY"
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