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Purpose:
To promote positive role models in the lives of students
To empower students to stand up for what they believe is right
To create a personal work of art based on students’ interpretation of an Unsung Heros’ character and actions;
To reflect on your experiences by writing an impact paper that articulates your personal journey and interprets their work for the viewer
"Valentine's Valor", Paige Brewer, 10th grade, 15 yrs
I chose to do my project on Jacob Valentine because of multiple reasons. I was inspired by his heroism and his valor and his constant drive to succeed throughout his life. For example, he received a silver star for valor after he swam to save his partners in combat because he was one of the only ones who could swim. He then came back from the war and went to college to get a degree in engineering. He saved the sandhill cranes' species. This inspired me because when I lived in Nebraska for a few years, we would see the cranes by the hundreds flying above us. I did not know that they were that endangered during Valentine’s time, and it is impressive to hear about their recovery. This is because he taught people about the “rarest bird in North America” at the time and he gave excellent speeches and wrote about them and ended up stopping an interstate being built that would wipe out the few the cranes left (he also did lots of other things to help them). I just found it very cool to learn about the important work that Valentine did because I might not have memories with my family and the experiences without Jacob Valentine's preservation of the species.
Before starting this painting, I had no idea who Jacob Valentine was. He achieved so many things in life, I can’t even start to imagine. And yet almost nobody knows who he is. He has almost no recognition for the lives of people and the lives of birds that he has saved. Yet he still fought hard and fought to save a species that he knew was important to ecosystems because he knew it was right. Previously, I have worried about little things like popularity and school projects, while Valentine focused on the bigger things in life. He served his country loyally and earned a silver star for courage. He has shown me that one person can change the lives of many if they are persistent and dedicated. I think that I need more of that in my future in order to reach my goals. I also tend to focus on my whole life at one moment. I have to take things one step at a time and really focus on what would be good for others instead of myself. Valentine’s actions all include doing things for others instead of himself. He did go to college and learn about biology… just so he could help save an entire species. He enlisted in the army… and ended up saving many lives of people that were drowning. Overall, my outlook on life has changed from focusing on myself and looking way into the future, to taking life one step at a time and focusing on doing whatever I can at the moment in order to help others. I am still allowed to focus on myself and how I can succeed, but I can shift my view of life from just myself to the rest of my community as well.
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