Why would you plan to do badly?
WATERLOO — Faith Saechao, 17, went to school and heard something that made her think.
No teacher said it. It wasn’t said in class. She heard it from a rap musician who came to perform. This is what she heard: why do some people celebrate being unprepared for school, for classes, for life?
“I guess I never really thought about that,” said Faith, who has struggled to get through high school. It made her go hmmm.
Toufigh Bagheri, 18, also heard something that sparked. Pick your friends wisely.
“I can kind of relate to that,” he said. “You’re easily influenced by the people you’re always around. That made me think a little bit.”
So mission accomplished for Duane Gibson, rapper, author and motivational speaker.
Gibson performed Wednesday for dozens attending the U-Turn program, a non-traditional setting for high school students who are at risk of dropping out of the Waterloo Region District School Board.
“With this type of crowd, they might not outwardly show their appreciation, but I like to think that the message connects,” Gibson said. “They’re not always going to show you it connects, but that’s kind of what being a high school-age student is like.”
Gibson, 38, goes by nickname D.O. which stands for ‘defy the odds.’ He’s a Toronto musician, university graduate, and holder of a Guinness World Record for freestyle rap, rapping for eight hours and 45 minutes. He tells youths to set goals and persevere and he tells them using music, memories, video, jokes and pictures.
It seemed to go over well at the school, a small setting where anxious students don’t feel lost in a crowd.
“I feel a lot more comfortable here. Everyone is willing to support you,” said Faith.
Toufigh is unsettled by a regular high school with all its drama and noise.
“You’re a lot closer with everyone because there’s not that much people,” he said.