Inspiration

In this section, we've compiled the videos that inspire us. Most of us have used these to start the school year or a staff meeting, the feel-good types that make you smile and...well...you get the point.

Everything I Learned, I Learned from a Gang Member - On April 29, 2018 Father Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, shared his inspirational message to Seaver Graduates. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the world. Today, Homeboy Industries employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises, and provides critical services to 15,000 men and women who walk through its doors every year seeking a better life.  (6:03)

Failure - You've probably seen this one, but it is a good one to have on hand...focuses on failures of highly successful individuals, including Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Edison. The message? If you haven't failed, you haven't succeeded. (1:16)

Google Search: Reunion - Partitions divide countries, friendships find a way. The India-Pakistan partition in 1947 separated many friends and families overnight. A granddaughter in India decides to surprise her grandfather on his birthday by reuniting him with his childhood friend (who is now in Pakistan) after over 6 decades of separation, with a little help from Google Search. (3:32)

How Great I Am - Compilation of a number of movie clips, beginning with "The Pursuit of Happyness" with messages about quitting, margins for error, and more. (6:14)

J Mac - A Hoop Dream - Great basketball about a young man whose dream was to play basketball and how a team supported his dream. (5:27)

Johnny The Bagger - This video is from Simple Truths and tells the story of a grocery store bagger with Down syndrome who changed the company culture and created customer loyalty by providing service from the heart. (3:19)  This video was shared by school leaders at the TICAL Conference, Arkansas.

Just Do It - This video features Art Williams and his phrase of "Just Do It" and what it takes to do more, be tough, not quit, and build a winning edge. He talks about leadership and how behind every successful anything is a successful leader. Sometimes winning is everything....when it comes to leadership. Finding a segment of this video works best. 2:08 is a good place if you need a shorter piece. (5:11)

Kids Playing Basketball - Kids playing basketball show big hearts and invite a boy in a wheelchair to play.  (0:59)

Know Your Why - Do you know what you are supposed to do? Do you know WHY you are here? This video is a great intro for people to explore their why. (3:49)

Life Vest Inside/Kindness Boomerang - Watch as the camera tracks an act of kindness as its passed from one individual to the next and manages to boomerang back to the person who set it into motion. (5:44)

Love for BBH Rally - This district-made video was created by the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District, under the leadership of Joelle Magyar. The rally was a celebration of students, but focused on mental health, inclusion, and reflection as a way to build each other up. It's a great example of what we can all do to be the positive influence in our school districts and communities. (1:35)

More Rice - This inspiring video is from the perspective of a boy whose mother was often busy as he was growing up. In time, he learns the value of their relationship. (2:26)

Panyee Football Club - This video is based on a true story. In 1986 a football team that lived on a little island in the south of Thailand called "Koh Panyee". It's a floating village in the middle of the sea that has not an inch of soil. The kids here loved to watch football but had nowhere to play or practice. But they didn't let that stop them. They challenged the norm and have become a great inspiration for new generations on the island. (5:14)

Penguin Returns to Second Home in Brazil - A Magellanic penguin that migrates from Patagonia and a retired bricklayer in a Brazilian fishing village have struck up an unusual friendship. The lesson in this video is that if you genuinely care for others, albeit an animal, you may make an insurmountable difference in that life. Give it a try! (1:55)

Pole Vault Resilience -  Overcoming adversity isn't easy. This pole vaulter does just that. The lesson? Don't give up. (1:09)

Power of Words - A young woman changes the day of a blind man by changing the words on his sign. The lesson? Our words are powerful and sometimes changing how we talk/write/think can make a world of difference. (2:00)

Rocky Balboa - The 2006 speech from Rocky Balboa is nothing short of inspiring. (3:10)

Special Education Inspiration - Beautiful compilation of politicians, movie stars, pop stars, athletes and more who have special needs and/or were in Special Education, set to an upbeat song. Great to kick off an event. (3:24)

Steve Jobs - Steve Jobs shared his perspective "If today was the last day of your life."  Sure to inspire! (1:54)

30 Dolphins - Ever wonder about the power of small groups? Watch as these bystanders become action-orientated to save dozens of dolphins. (3:45)

The Pursuit of Happyness - Will Smith's last day as an intern and he is called into the management office and offered a full time job. (3:41)

Turtle Support - We all need someone we can count on. If you didn't know, a turtle cannot live if it is flipped on its back. Other turtles know this and will come to save the day. (:55)

Unsung Hero - Young man in Vietnam who helps others and truly makes a difference in their lives. Tugs at the heartstrings! (3:05)

We Are Marshall - Although Marshall lost, McConahay scores the first touchdown with his portrayal and pre-game speech as the Thundering Herd gets ready to play Xavier after the devastating plane crash that killed the entire team. (4:08)

What Is Your Hope? What happens if you ask students what their hope is? Think about what you could do in a school if you used this approach. (0:58)

You Can Do That - A compilation of sports videos reminding watchers that if you don't try, you won't ever know what you can't do. (2:01)