Peterson helps youths write their stories

Peterson helps youths write their stories

Ohio’s Fifth District Sons of The American Legion and the U.S. Army sponsored Michael Peterson’s “TAG! You’re It” program that recently brought nearly 850 students from 14 local schools to the gymnasium at Buckeye Central High School in New Washington, Ohio.

“This program introduces students to an idea that they haven’t heard before — that each one of us ultimately are the authors of our outcomes,” Peterson said. “So the stories that we write about ourselves show up as our everyday language and have a generative effect. I want to create an environment where students can make that discovery, change the way they look at things, and change the way they look at themselves, others, life and circumstances. Because it is by choice and not by chance that determines a person’s destiny.”

The program got under way with members of the U.S. Army raffling off an iPod and introducing the students to the Army’s eight core values — loyalty, duty, respect, self-service, self-less, honor, integrity and personal courage — which were prominently displayed on 8-foot tall posters.

“The Army came to support the event and get the kids motivated because a lot of Peterson’s discussion coincides with our values,” said 1st Sgt. Kenneth Kowalski. “We want to teach and instill our values early on with students so they have them to follow instead of taking a route that gets them into trouble where they can’t join the Army if they decide to do so.”

Once Peterson stepped up to the microphone and shared the hardships he endured as a child and how he overcame them, the engaged students heard firsthand how a now famous musician faced many of the same challenges they do today.

“I liked how Michael told us about his life, and it really meant a lot to me because I’ve had a lot of hard times in my life as well,” said Katelyn Shaw, a junior at Pioneer Career Technology Center in Shelby, Ohio. “Just knowing that someone who is famous can relate to me is amazing.”

Peterson also showed videos of youths voicing their frustrations, concerns and fears regarding the numerous challenges they come across every day, and he emphasized how the students are the author of their outcomes by the choices and changes they make. To help the students understand their stories, Peterson shared “a set of questions that are simple, easy to repeat and likely to be repeated that will empower their life.” The three questions are: What is your story?, Why did you choose that story? and How is that story working out for you? “If your story is not working out for you, well, you have the power to shift and change direction,” Peterson said.

Aside from local Army recruiters and many high school administrative officials, nearby Legion Post 405 members were in attendance as well as Ohio Auxiliary President Linda Close.

“‘TAG! You’re It’ is a life-changing experience for high school students everywhere,” Close said. “Michael Peterson connects with his audience then teaches them to accept responsibility of their own life and motivates them to choose their best future.”

At the conclusion of the program, Peterson announced that because the students experienced ‘TAG! You’re It’ they are now connected to the website www.tagyouritonline.com where “they will be introduced to a set of tools that will help them identify their passion and purpose and help them identify a pathway to what we call a game of greatness. The game of building a quality life,” Peterson said.

And before the students exited the gym for lunch, Peterson signed autographs and took pictures with the students, while Army members printed personal dog tags for those who wanted one.

To learn more about “TAG! You’re It” and how to bring it to a school near you, click here (www.michaelpetersononline.com).