May 15, 2025 • 48 mins
What does real leadership look like in today’s world? At National Trail High School in New Paris, Ohio, the answer isn’t found in titles or authority—it’s found in actions. In this powerful episode of BeTempered, hosts Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with the students behind the school’s Renaissance Program, a dynamic, student-led initiative that’s changing the very heartbeat of their school culture.
The Renaissance Program at National Trail isn’t just a club—it’s a movement. Rooted in the national Jostens Renaissance model, this local chapter embraces a vision that celebrates academic achievement, reinforces positive behavior, boosts teacher and student morale, and cultivates a campus where everyone feels seen, valued, and inspired to lead.
Forget what you know about the word “Renaissance.” This isn’t about knights and castles—it’s about revival. A revival of compassion. A revival of empathy. A revival of what it means to care deeply for your community. These students embody the idea that creating a school worth showing up to every day doesn’t require a title or a position—it just requires a willing heart and a commitment to lead by example.
Throughout the conversation, these young leaders open up about what leadership truly means. “A leader steps up willingly,” one student says. “Even knowing they’ll face hardships, they keep going.” They talk openly about the emotional labor of leadership—making space for others, checking in with those who are struggling, and remembering that even the smallest act of kindness can have lasting impact. From surprising office staff with flowers to greeting classmates they barely know, they demonstrate that culture shifts happen not through grand gestures, but consistent, authentic care.
But the conversation doesn’t stop there. They dive into the complexities of growing up in a digital world—navigating social media, staying grounded in their values, and pushing through seasons of burnout and doubt. When asked who they would most like to have a conversation with, nearly all answer the same: Jesus. Not because of religion, but because of the example He set for servant leadership, humility, and love.
Perhaps the most moving moment comes as they reflect on their advisor, Ms. Laird—a teacher who has empowered them to take the reins without ever trying to control the direction. "She knows what we can do," one student says, choking back tears. "And she’s never said no." It’s clear that her belief in them has helped them believe in themselves.
This episode is a window into the future—and it’s hopeful. It’s proof that students today are not only aware of the problems around them—they're actively stepping up to make change. If you've ever doubted whether the next generation is ready to lead, this conversation will set your mind at ease.
Tune in and let the students of National Trail’s Renaissance Program show you how leadership, kindness, and perseverance are still alive—and thriving—in the hallways of a small Ohio high school.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt.
This is my dad, Dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks, allie.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass Final replacement
.
Windows from Catron's come witha lifetime warranty, including
accidental glass breakagereplacement.
Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years.
(00:26):
Kitchen class, the clear choice.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Welcome to the Be Tempered podcast, where we
explore the art of findingbalance in a chaotic world.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
Join us as we delve into insightful conversations,
practical tips and inspiringstories to help you navigate
life's ups and downs with graceand resilience.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
We're your hosts, Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr.
Let's embark on a journey tolive our best lives.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
This is Be Tempered.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
What's up everybody?
Welcome to the Be Temperedpodcast, episode number 54.
You sure?
Yes, Today we have something alittle unique.
We are at National Trail HighSchool in New Paris, Ohio, and
we have a group of students whoare here.
They are with the RenaissanceProgram and about I don't know.
(01:14):
Two or three months ago, I puta challenge out to this group
and I said hey, I'm going todonate some money to the
Renaissance Program, which we'llfind out all about the
Renaissance Program.
I'm going to donate some moneyto the renaissance program,
which we'll find out all aboutthe renaissance program.
I'm going to donate some moneyto the program and if you double
the money, we'll do a podcast.
So here we are.
Yeah, good job guys, yeah herewe are.
(01:34):
Good job, good job so we'regonna we're gonna learn a little
bit about renaissance.
We're gonna learn aboutleadership, where these young
people are at mentally, what,what they look at in a leader,
what a leader looks like, allkinds of different things, so
that we can get a youngindividual's perspective this
day and age.
So, to start off my question toyou, when I think of
(01:56):
Renaissance, I think of going toWaynesville, ohio to the.
Renaissance Festival, seeingpeople dressed up in all that
gothic garb, and that's what Ithink of.
But what we're going to findout is that's not the case.
So introduce yourself, tell uswhat Renaissance is.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Yeah, so I'm Kellen and I'm Kellen, and so
Renaissance is a student ledleadership group that is used to
better the community, create apositive school culture and
climate.
We want to make sure kids wantto come to school, teachers want
to come to school, and we justwant to boost school spirit and
build morale throughout ourschool.
(02:36):
That's really the goal ofRenaissance.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Okay, that's way different than what I thought.
All right, so what does being aleader mean to you, and can
someone be a leader withouthaving a title?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
So I think a leader is someone that steps up to a
position like willingly, theykind of understand that.
They understand that they'regoing to go through hardships
and they have a goal or a viewthat they want to achieve.
But I think a leader has tohave characteristics with that,
so they have to be superopen-minded.
(03:09):
I think if you close that off,you're automatically going to
kind of lose that visionstraight away, and when you're a
leader you're going to havedifferent ideas thrown at you.
You're going to go throughhardships, but I think you're
there for yourself and to gainother people with you.
So as long as you can commit tothat vision and continue that,
then you'll be a great leader.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
That's a good answer.
Yeah, and you're not reading no, that's great.
That's great, All right.
Who's someone in your lifecould be a teacher, a coach?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
a friend who leads by example.
And what do they do differently?
Yeah, so someone that I look atas a leader is my baseball
coach.
His name's Mr Luce, so I thinksomething he does differently
than all my other coaches ishe's able to connect with us
personally while we're off thefield or in between innings or
stuff like that, but then assoon as game time comes, it's a
completely different person andhe's locked in and coaching, and
(04:03):
I think that's a very goodcharacteristic in a leader um
being able to like switch fromdifferent forms um to connect
with who you're leading, andhe's able to get his message
through really well to us byleading by example.
Um, he never does.
He never tells us to dosomething that he's not going to
do.
He never.
He never doesn't take ownershipfor when he messes up the same
(04:25):
way he tells us to do.
And that's hard sometimesbecause obviously everybody
makes mistakes, but he owns upto his mistakes, we own up to
our mistakes and it's just likea two way street of respect and
I think that's something that Isee it's very prevalent in his
life as a leader.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, sounds like sounds like he's a.
He's a great leader.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, and that's the big thing too, because you know,
when you're nobody's perfectnone of us are perfect and
especially when you're coachedand stuff, I mean that's it's a
big thing.
We both coach young, youngathletes, and some of us a
younger age we're like 10, 11year olds where they're still
perfect.
But you know, that's the bigthing, I feel like if you're
open with them, we all makemistakes and I and I feel like
that's a really goodcharacteristic, so I love that
you said that.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Do you think being a leader is easy?
No, as a short answer, the longanswer would be no, but it's
worth it.
So in my eyes, if you're in aleadership role and you see
yourself as wanting to be aleader and you get put into that
position, like Spider-Manalways said, great power comes
with great responsibility right.
(05:32):
So you get that being able totake charge of a team, being
able to have influence onpeople's life but in turn, a lot
of times when you fail, it's onyou as the leader.
Right?
I mean, we see that all thetime in life, let alone in
National Trail.
But I think it's not easybecause one you get, like I said
, you get all the losses on youand you have to deal with so
many different types of peopleas a leader.
(05:53):
If you're, you know you've gotthis kid that you have to
connect with this way, this kid,you know it spreads out.
But I think it's worth it whenyou have accomplishments and you
can celebrate with your teamand your family that you're
leading.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, that's a good answer.
The highs are high and the lowsare lows, right, and you've
just got to try to staysomewhere in the middle.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
So good answer, all right.
So how can students create amore positive culture in their
schools even without formalroles?
And you guys can go ahead andintroduce yourselves.
Speaker 7 (06:21):
I'm Lexi, I'm a junior.
So basically, yeah, go ahead,morgan, I'm Morgan.
So basically, me and Morgan doa lot of the same things.
We're both in a lot of clubs.
We're both in a lot ofdifferent groups.
But one thing different aboutme and her is that she's a
Renaissance officer and I'm not.
I've taken on a leadership rolein FAA and I've been an officer
(06:42):
in there for many years, butsince we're in the same groups,
I'm involved just as much as sheis.
So you don't have to be anofficer in renaissance.
Because I didn't want to takeon too much and put too much on
my plate, so I decided to nottake a position this year in
renaissance.
But we do the same exact things.
You don't have to be consideredan officer.
You can still be a member andstill be involved.
So we try to urge all of ourmembers and other students that
(07:03):
are wanting to join and wantingto get involved in their school
to just go ahead and stepforward.
You cannot have any dumb ideasin Renaissance.
We try to take everything intoconsideration.
See what we can try to get done, things like that.
You know we try to get everyoneinvolved as much as possible
because we want that positiveimpact in school.
That is the whole point ofRenaissance.
So nice.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
A lot of energy.
I it, I like it all right.
What impact has renaissanceprogram had on your school
spirit and student recognition?
Speaker 8 (07:33):
so I think for me one of the big things is everybody
knows that like I have a lot ofschool spirit.
You know, at the pep rallies,games or whatever, I'm always
big energy and stuff and I'mtrying to get other people
involved and have as much energyas they can too, and I think
renaissance has kind of put thatinto perspective for me.
Uh, when you know, I can walkdown the hallway and then we can
(07:56):
connect with the younger gradesand stuff too, and they'd be
like oh we, we were at your, wewere at the boys game, we saw
Morgan, energetic, loud you, wewant to be like that.
Or we saw how the studentsection was.
We want to be like that.
And I just think gettingeverybody involved has created
so much more of a positiveimpact.
You know, when we go to ourRenaissance rallies, everybody's
(08:17):
getting involved, we're gettingmore energy out of everybody
and I think that's really likethe huge idea.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
That's good, that's good.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, everybody, and I think that's really like the
huge idea.
That's good.
That's good.
Yeah, how does celebrating thesmall wins, like good attendance
or kindness, help shift theoverall culture and go ahead and
introduce your guys yourselves?
Speaker 9 (08:33):
okay, I'm Isabel and I'm a senior.
I'm Hannah and I'm also asenior.
So, um, like being here forfour years now, we've got to
witness how it's changedthroughout our school.
When I first started, like asfreshman, not a single person in
the hallway was saying hi toeach other, unless they were
friends and me personally, Iknow we wouldn't go up and
compliment anybody, but as we'vebeen through Renaissance, it's
(08:54):
really opened our eyes of justhow saying somebody is worthy of
something or they're loved, howmuch it actually changes the
personality of the people you'retalking to because, like you
never know what somebody's goingthrough, especially when you're
in school.
Like there's kids that aregoing home who absolutely do not
want to be going home, and likeschools are only safe space and
there may be kids that havenever been told that somebody's
(09:16):
proud of them before and likefor somebody to do it,
especially classmates that aretheir own age.
It's incredible and it justmakes everybody like want to
come to school more and be likemore excited to be here.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I guess yeah, those little things, like the small
amounts that we do speak volumes, like in the school, even if
they're bigger or larger yeah,it's important and I think the
key thing that you said and it'sit's the the main reason that
we do the podcast is everybody'sgot a story right.
Everybody in this room has astory and it's different.
Some of you have some prettybig challenges at home.
(09:48):
Some of you don't.
In this school, I'm surethere's many kids who, like you
said, go home in the evening anddon't want to go home.
They may not even get mealsover the weekend.
The only meals they may get arehere at school.
So it's important for you, youngpeople, as leaders, to say
hello, to say good morning, tohave that conversation.
If you see a kid sitting in thelunchroom by himself, sit down
(10:10):
and just introduce yourself andhave that conversation.
That's what being a leader isall about.
You don't have to scream andyell.
You don't have to get everybodyexcited all the time.
There's time for that indifferent aspects of life, but
for the most part, it's justabout being there for other
people.
So good answer of life, but forthe most part, it's just about
being there for other people.
Speaker 9 (10:24):
So I feel like it's also really important to like
talk about the staff too,because, like we normally focus
on just like the students, butlike if students are here and
their staff doesn't want to behere, they're in the teachers to
see on.
Like they seem like down in thedumps, like they don't even
like their job, like if you'relike we recognize the staff like
a lot, like just the other daywe brought flowers to our
offices and just a smile puts ontheir face and it makes them
(10:45):
want to come to work and it justbetter like the whole vibe here
yeah, and it goes back to thesame thing.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
It's not just the kids facing trouble or
difficulties at home.
The staff does too, right theyhave.
They have issues at home,things that they have to deal
with that.
Um, you know that adults haveto deal with that.
Maybe kids don't so it.
So it's important not just withthe kids but with the adults.
So it's pretty awesome.
Good answer.
All right, next up, introduceyourselves who we got here.
Speaker 11 (11:14):
All right, I'm Kylie and I'm a senior and this is my
first year in the program.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
All right, Kylie.
Speaker 12 (11:19):
I'm Jalen and this is my second year.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Come a little closer to the mic.
There, jalen and this is mysecond year come a little closer
to the mic.
Yeah, there we go, all right.
What are the biggest challengeshigh school students face today
that adults might not fullyunderstand?
Speaker 11 (11:33):
I think that one of the biggest challenges the
students face is not being ableto realize that they have a
voice.
So, like I said, this is myfirst year in the program and I
spent my last year.
Last school year was a reallybig struggle for me and I spent
my whole year in Ms Laird's room, so I got to see all of the
things that the Renaissance Clubdid and I realized I really
wanted to be a part of that.
So joining this club gave me avoice and gave me a way to get
(11:54):
my ideas out and realize thatthe things that I do really do
matter.
And I think that that'simportant for students to
realize, because once that theycan see that they are able to
voice their own opinions and getthe things that they want done,
then they'll be in a bettermood and they'll be ready to
face the things that their lifeis going to challenge them with.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
All right, that's a great answer, young man.
Speaker 12 (12:16):
I think, like you guys kind of said, that too,
everybody's different, it'sreally hard to fit in
Everybody's different and Idon't know, it's just hard to
fit in everybody's different,and I don't know, it's just hard
, I don't know.
I don't know, I'm sorry, no, no, you're good so why is it hard?
Speaker 3 (12:34):
because what?
What I, what you might begetting at, is not.
Not everybody is a leader,right, and and just because
you're a part of the renaissanceprogram, where you're trying
trying to shape leadership andto learn about leadership, it
doesn't mean that you're aleader and that's okay.
There's nothing wrong with thatright.
You still have your place inlife, you still have your
purpose in life and you canstill be a good person and a
(12:55):
good individual, right.
Speaker 12 (12:56):
Yeah, I was kind of the same way with Kylie.
I have a couple friend groups,but I kind of don't.
I do sit by myself at lunch,but that's also kind of just
like my calm down.
I just like to cool down fromeverybody, just because I don't
like everybody, and that's allright, because it's just and
(13:19):
that's okay.
Yeah, right, that's okay.
But I really do like to helpeverybody too.
I like to put smiles onpeople's faces and that's really
just a big thing that we dohere.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Well, and I think Ed Milet is a guy who I'm inspired
by.
He's a big podcaster and healways says when you feel
helpless, get helpful, right.
So when you feel like you'redown in the dumps, when you've
had a a bad day, you failed atest or something happened, turn
around and go help somebody.
And again, it can be somethingas simple as just having a
(13:49):
conversation.
Right, you don't have to go outof your way to to to do some
some big, extravagant thing,it's just go have a conversation
with somebody and that'll makeyou feel better.
That'll turn that, turn thatday into a positive, and what
you'll recognize is there's alot of people out there that
have a lot worse than you do.
Right, that's the big thing.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
So good job, good auntie, and it's okay to be an
introvert too, you know, yeah,like not everybody's outgoing
and like that's just becauseyou're not a extrovert, you're
an introvert doesn't mean youcan't help people.
I love that.
Yeah, like you know, you stilltake that confidence and go, try
to help people.
So the second part of thequestion how has social media
helped or hurt your generationwhen it comes to confidence,
(14:28):
connection and leadership?
Speaker 7 (14:31):
So there's so many pros and cons to social media.
We've grown up in a generationwhere that's what we've been
surrounded with since we've beenborn and so you know we've had
to experience both the pros andcons pretty much everyone has.
So there's many cons.
We've had to experience thecons.
You can't get on social mediawithout, you know, seeing
something you don't want to see,hearing something you don't
(14:51):
want to hear.
That's just the experience thatwe have now in this day and age
.
So it ruins people's, like thecons are.
It ruins people's perceptionsof themselves.
You know the way people viewthemselves.
It can tear down theirself-confidence a million times
over and over again.
It opens a big way forcyberbullying and for people to
kind of you know, tear peopledown, which isn't the intent of
(15:12):
it.
But people are going to usethings the way they want to use
things, so you can't reallycontrol that.
You know they can post whateverthey want.
They can tear things down.
So you can be a leader onsocial media but at the same
time there's so many cons thatyou really have to be careful
what you watch and what you seeand what shows up on like your
for you page or what you see onInstagram and stuff like that.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
And like I truly like she said, like all the cons and
most of those, if you just flipit and look at it from a
different perspective, they'reall pros, so you can find people
that you may have never seenbefore in your life like we.
Like we met people at aconference we went to last year
schools that are in states awayand we still can keep like
contact with them and see whatthey're doing and we can get new
(15:55):
ideas from it.
But, like she said, likethere's also really bad things
that come along with it.
But if I'm somebody who's onthere and I may find not have
friends in person, but if I havefriends online, that may give
me something to look forward toevery day.
It really just depends on howyou use it yourself.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Yeah, you're right.
I always in my mind, you canchange your algorithm, right?
You know, you, what you look at, what you like, what you click
on, what you share, that thatforms that algorithm and whether
it's Instagram, snapchat,TikTok, whatever it is algorithm
, and whether it's Instagram,snapchat, tiktok, whatever it is
, whatever social media thatyou're on, there are a lot of
positive things out there, butthere are also, like you said,
(16:32):
there's, a lot of negativethings.
How many people post that theyhad a bad day?
Speaker 7 (16:38):
Not many.
It's a very fake world outthere most of the time.
That's right.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And as young people you have to keep that in
perspective.
You know Ben and I are old menat least Ben is and you know so
we weren't raised with socialmedia.
That didn't come.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
I don't even know when that came for me it came
out when I was in high school,so somebody's an old man.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I was in the working force then.
But people can post, they canmake things look extravagant.
I mean, you can go rent aLamborghini and you can take a
picture with a Lamborghini andmake it look like you own a
Lamborghini, but you don't.
That's all fake stuff.
So I would encourage you, ifyou're looking through your feed
and all of a sudden you juststart sucking the life out of
you like man.
(17:22):
There's fights, there's allthis negative stuff on here
start looking at something else.
Start looking for that positive.
Go to the be tempered podcast.
Go check that out.
There's some positive stuffthere, right?
So, yeah, you're right, socialmedia is a huge influence on
this generation, way more than Imean.
I have no clue about how itaffects everybody, but you can
(17:43):
make that negative a positive,yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
I mean it can be super positive, super helpful
not to shamelessly plug our ownsocial media.
But Renaissance.
We post on there all the time.
We try to, you know, have allof our students follow it, all
of our staff follow it, and thenso we try to recognize our
students, our members, of whatwe're doing and what we're going
out to do.
So then we're connecting withother Renaissance clubs.
This is how they reach out tous.
(18:05):
This is how we share all of ourcommunity service things that
we want our community to come to, all of our events, everything
like that.
So it can be really helpful.
You just have to make sure thatyou're trying to stay on the
right algorithm and make surethat you're watching the right
stuff, especially as teenagers,because it can really change
change the way you perceive theworld and the way it's going to
be when you're, when you grow upand you graduate high school
yeah, that's great, all right.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Next question what kind of pressure do you feel
when it comes to grades, sportsor being successful?
Speaker 13 (18:36):
yeah.
So I'm miranda and I'm a seniorand it's really hard keeping up
and having good grades, as wellas like being in sports and
being involved in a lot of clubslike I'm in Renaissance and FFA
and NHS.
So, like pressure for myparents to have those good
grades is definitely veryhelpful, because that's what's
gotten me into college and it'sgetting me the scholarships I
(18:57):
need to pay for that.
But at the same time, it's beenstressful sometimes with, like
trying to make sure my gradesare as high as they can be and
things like that yeah.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
So I think one thing is like in life, everybody sets
goals and everybody hasdifferent goals that they set.
So my goals might be differentfrom other people in my grade or
other people in the school orjust any people like my age.
But I think it's all about likeyou as a person, and obviously
there is stress when it comes togrades and everything, but for
(19:27):
me it's really just as long asI'm doing the best that I can
possibly do, then I feel likethat's what I'm succeeding in in
life and that, even if you know, like I were to get a bad grade
or something, that that one badgrade isn't gonna define who I
am as a person and that I'mstill you know, I'm still smart,
even if I do bad on a test.
(19:48):
Like you know, as long as I'mdoing the best that I can, I
think that's what matters.
So, like, within the stress,it's just finding the little
things like to make it seembetter.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Yeah, Great answers.
And that's the key that you'llfind as you mature and as you
get older and get married andmaybe have a family and get into
the real world is, in myopinion, the key to being
successful in whatever you'regoing to do is just being
consistent.
Just being consistent to try toreach whatever that goal is
(20:20):
doing, whatever it takes toreach.
You know to do that everysingle day to get to that goal.
Consistency is key.
So great answers.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
What do you wish more adults would ask or talk to you
guys about?
Speaker 14 (20:36):
do you wish more adults would ask or talk to you
guys about Okay, I'm HaydenDavies and I'm a junior this
year, so I would say thatobviously things have really
changed, probably since you guyswere in middle school or high
school, and it's something likesocial media especially.
I mean you said it was when youwere right out of high school
and you were still in highschool.
Humor has definitely changed, Iwould say.
And like like fashion, I wishthat you know.
(20:56):
The older generations wouldmaybe ask like what do what does
that joke mean?
Even if it's maybe not actuallythe funniest or the most
appropriate.
Like I don't know, I think thatwould build a better connection
.
Or like what is the appeal withthat fashion trend?
Like I don't know somethinglike that.
Speaker 15 (21:13):
My name is Jalen, I'm a sophomore and I think that
the parents, or like adults,should maybe, as high schoolers,
not treat us like such kids andgive us more of a realistic,
because right out of high schoolwe're going to be in the job
force, we're going to be workingor through college and
(21:35):
nothing's going to be babied forus anymore.
So I feel like we should startoff with that in high school or
as we get older, and the adultsshould just treat us more as
adults.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
So do you feel like there's this protective umbrella
over top of you?
Speaker 15 (21:49):
Yeah, just a little bit, especially like from our
parents.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
They don't want us to grow up, but we're obviously
going to as we get older and Ican speak as a parent that
that's a hard thing and you'llfind this out as you become a
parent.
You, you know every, everyparent you talk to.
They always say I want my kidto have it better than I had it
right.
Well, I, I think you know, withke, kevin and Ben and I and Mrs
(22:14):
Laird in here, I think we wouldall tell you the same thing
when we've learned the most,where we've grown the most, is
in those difficult times.
Those struggles, whatever itmight be, the hardest times I've
had in my life, are the onesthat I remember.
I don't remember all the wins.
I don't remember, you know, thegreat days.
(22:35):
I remember the struggles andwhat I learned from that.
And as a parent, it's hard, it'shard to do that.
So I'm not going to defend yourparents, even though I know who
they are.
But you know maybe that maybe,as as young adults as you all
are, maybe you say, hey, let metry this.
If I fall on my face and I fail, I'm going to learn from it.
(22:55):
Right, I think maybe sometimesyou younger kids, if you feel
that pull, if you feel like whyare they protecting me, why are
they doing this, just say, heylook, let me give it a try.
I might fail, but what's theworst thing that can happen?
Right, you're going to learnfrom it, right?
So I think that's key and, likeI said, I'm going to defend the
parents a little bit, but I getit and it's.
It's interesting to hear thatfrom you.
Speaker 14 (23:18):
Yeah, I also feel like in a lot of ways too, as
far as like the school aspect ofit is, like teachers and just
the way that all schools arekind of like built to run, is
they train us to test and tograduate and they forget about
the fact that we still have likemaybe 50 years after we get out
of here.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
We don't want to talk about all that.
It's a whole different realm,but you guys are on the right
path, doing Renaissance.
I mean, this is a great thingto give you some real life, real
world experience.
So great answers.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
I do love that answer too.
I feel like that's notsomething we were expecting.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
No, I wasn't yeah, for sure that's good.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
It's a good one for the parents to take note of.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
That's right, all right.
If you could give advice toincoming freshmen, what would it
be?
Speaker 16 (24:04):
So I'm Caitlin and I'm a senior and looking back on
my four years I woulddefinitely tell not only my
freshman self but all thefreshmen coming in to not change
for other people, like yourfriend groups, don't feel that
pressure.
I used to be a really bigpeople pleaser.
I would say yes to everythingkind of feel bad.
But I had to learn myself toset those boundaries even if it
(24:25):
didn't make other people happy.
But I had to put my happinessand my future above anything
else.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
That's a great answer , great answer.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
So mine kind of goes off of Caitlin's.
I would say get comfortablewith change.
And from freshman to senioryear, I can't.
I can give you a whole list ofhow many things has changed.
And my next year going tocollege, I already know how much
change is coming my way.
And I was someone who was shy.
I would get nervous.
I'm a whole different personnow.
I remember going to myconference last year for
(24:52):
Renaissance and I was speakingand the girl was like, how are
you so good at public speaking?
And I was like me, like you'retalking to me right now?
And she's like, yeah, well, Ihave a student like I just want
to know if you have any tips.
And I was like, oh, this justhappened today like.
I can't tell you and I was.
That's when it really clicked,like okay, my personality is
finally developing, like I thinkI'm going to be an independent
(25:14):
person for college, I have myown personality and I'm getting
out of my house, where then Ican really just blossom to the
person I want to be.
But I also think that everyperson should be changing, and
if you're not changing, you'reprobably doing something wrong.
And change can be good and bad,and I think if you focus on the
good and what you want tobecome, that's where change is
very important.
So I think a freshman should becomfortable with it now,
(25:37):
because it's going to happenevery year, it's going to happen
every month.
You've got to get used to itnow.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Yeah, that's, that's great answer.
We talk about get comfortable,being uncomfortable, right?
I mean that?
That is that is very true, andyou hit the nail on the head.
So good answers, both of youAll right.
How do we stay motivated andinspired when things aren't
going your way?
Speaker 17 (26:00):
Okay, my name is Kinsey, I'm a sophomore and I
feel like staying motivated issomething really hard that we
all struggle with, whetheryou're a kid or whether you're
an adult, because, like, we'reall waking up and we're going
through our struggles, like anadult is going to work, a kid's
going to school or whatever itmight be a sport, it's
repetitive and it's exhausting,and staying motivated is
(26:20):
something that we all strugglewith.
I feel like everyone does, andI feel like something that's
always stuck with me is that,like this quote is do it
exhausted, do it tired, do ithappy, do it sad.
Just do it with whatever youhave in you, because not
everybody gets to do that, noteverybody gets to say, okay, I'm
(26:42):
, I'm in track.
Not everybody gets to go runaround the track, not everybody
gets to wake up every, everymorning and go be active.
And I just feel like somethingthat like just truly motivates
me is that quote it and itinspires me to push myself each
and every day do you know whosaid that quote?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
no, jocko Willink.
He's a.
He's a former Navy SEAL.
So that's a great quote, andthat's discipline is what it is.
Is that what you got, kellen um?
Speaker 5 (27:11):
yeah, I think like different ways you can stay
motivated or inspiring that havehelped me a lot is, um, like
relying on the people around you.
Um, you know, a lot of times ifyou're going through a
situation or a hardship andyou're struggling to find the
motivation to wake up every dayand get out of bed and go to
school for students and you knowstudents like us um, then you
(27:31):
know, maybe ask your friends orask people around you like to
hype you up a little bit.
You know like it helps a lotwhen you feel that other people
want me to do this too, not justmyself.
You know other people look atme and say you know I want the
best for him.
So then you can want the bestfor yourself, and I think I
think that's really powerfulwhen it comes to motivating and
(27:51):
inspiring yourself, for sure.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Yeah, yeah.
So who you surround yourselfwith, iron sharpens.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Iron, that's what I always go off of, and if you
surround yourself people youwant to be, that's who you're
most likely going to becomeright yeah, and I think, also
there, there needs to be more ofan importance placed on finding
yourself uh, you know,motivation and things like that,
because I feel like that's partof the center of our whole
being is being motivated, right,like nothing you do in life can
be done to the best of itsability if you don't have
(28:18):
motivation behind it, if youhave no why or no reason to do
something, then you're not goingto give it your all and you're
not going to do it the best youcan.
So I think there needs to bemore of an importance placed on
that, especially in schools,because you know teachers say,
well, you know you just need toget it done.
Right, get it done, get it done.
Well, why do I need to get itdone?
(28:39):
That gives me motivation, youknow, yeah, so I think that's
part of something that needs tochange throughout schools is
giving us the why, because thewhy is why we want to do it.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Motivation, you know yeah, good answer, a really good
answer.
What's one small thing everystudent could do this week to
make their school better?
Speaker 10 (28:57):
okay.
So I'm Claire and this is myfirst year in renaissance, so
like the easy answer would be goout the week with a positive
attitude.
I think it's so easy, likenowadays, for kids to go to
school and be like, oh, I hateschool, I don't want to go to
class, or just like look at itso negatively.
And so I think just going outthe week with positive attitude
and really just looking at thegood things, like you see
(29:18):
someone in the hallway you don'tknow, say hi.
I say hi to like anyone becauseI don't care.
Like what are they going to do?
Say like no.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Like no, they're going to say hi.
Speaker 10 (29:25):
Or like talked about seeing people eating alone at
lunch.
Go sit with them Like what'sthe worst, like you're literally
just going to eat your food andyou can spark a conversation
and just talk.
Like nothing bad will come fromhaving a positive attitude.
Like go up to someone and tella joke okay, I love jokes, I
tell jokes all the time Likejust really the positive
(29:49):
attitude about it, and thatcould really just make it better
.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Good answer.
Speaker 18 (29:51):
Hey, I'm Taryn.
This is also my first New YearRenaissance.
But I know for a lot of peopleit's hard to stay positive and
like to go through thingsthroughout the day and like you
never know what someone's goingthrough.
So like walking through thehalls and just like what Claire
said, just saying hi to them, orlike giving them a compliment,
like hey, I like your hair, hey,I like your shirt, that can
really make someone's day andyou really don't know it.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
So, yeah, yeah, and that's you know.
It's all about compounding,right?
You say you know, if you see ayoung student, a fifth grade
student, you say hi to themevery day, you develop a
relationship every day with them.
They may do the same thing witha second grader.
You know who's struggling.
So it's all about compoundingthose positive things.
So, great answers, ladies,great answers.
All right, we're getting downto the end here, all right?
(30:37):
So this is where we should havesome powerful answers.
Okay, you guys have knocked itout of the park, but let's see
what we got.
So we always end the podcastwith these last two questions
and you guys can fire awayhowever you want to go.
If you could have aconversation with someone,
living or deceased, who would itbe and why?
Speaker 5 (31:02):
I think all of us, we kind of like, talked about this
a little bit and we all havethe same answer and this is not,
you know, a certain answer fora certain reason.
But we all said Jesus, I thinkwe all are Christian.
But that's not you don't like,but, I think, the reason why I
don't know what to assume.
But we, we wanted to all talkto Jesus because you know it's,
(31:27):
he's such a big part of all ofour lives, you know, and he's
such a great role model, right?
So when someone comes up to meand says you know who's, like,
your biggest role model, right,I always say Jesus.
And I think that's for me andespecially in our aspect in life
and schools.
Right, like, you know, I feellike there's kind of been a
thing, like in schools where wedon't talk about religion.
(31:48):
Right, there's like a what'sthe word?
Not by like teachers, not bylike teachers, but students,
like among ourselves, right,like it's.
It feels like there's like anegative connotation to talking
about religion, like, oh, weshouldn't be talking about that,
right?
But I think, I think, if, if Ihad a conversation with Jesus
(32:11):
first off, that would be crazy,but it would kind of, it would
shape me to be a better leaderfor one, talking about what
we've been talking about RightCause he was the best leader in
my opinion.
I mean he led.
He led all throughout the youknow, all throughout the
promised land.
He led people in scriptures, heled people in preaching, and
(32:34):
that would help me as anindividual, like outside of my
spiritual being as well, beingable to like learn from him and
have him guide me.
But anybody have anything elseto add about?
Speaker 9 (32:45):
that I feel like he said, like a lot of us, like
we're looking to Jesus for ouranswer, like a lot of times we
get lost and we don't knowexactly where we're going next.
And I know, like me personally,like I'm looking to him and
seeing what he's saying to me,to like be able to do, like
without him, like I would notprobably be able to do half the
stuff I'm doing, like he'sputting me in these positions to
have all these opportunities,and like we have to give thanks
(33:07):
to him.
And like I know the saying islike what would Jesus do and
wear it on the wrist all thetime?
Like I don't know if everybodyreally thinks about it, but if
we like strive to live more likehim and like answer in ways he
would, I think that can help usget further along.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I'll tell you the rest of your life.
That's probably where you needto keep looking for your answers
, Cause if you do that, you'regoing to be successful.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Yeah that's right.
Other ladies got anything toadd?
Does anyone else have havesomeone that they that may be
different that they want to talkabout?
This is your chance.
Nobody.
All right, we'll move to thefinal question.
(33:47):
You guys have any closingthoughts?
Are there any quotes?
Could be a bible verse thatwhen times are tough and when
you've had a bad day or you'redown in the dumps, or maybe
you've lost a loved one, youknow, maybe there's been
something tragic that hashappened where you know it's
just knocked the wind out ofyour sails.
(34:08):
Is there a quote?
Is there something that youfall back on that gets you
through that time?
Speaker 8 (34:16):
you fall back on.
That gets you through that time.
I think for me, one of thethings is and it was briefly
mentioned kind of earliertalking about it's like finding
your why and finding you knowwhat you're doing, why you're
doing it, what your purpose isfor it, and that's what really
kind of keeps me going.
Is you know, why am I, you know, trying so hard in school, why
am I trying so hard in sportsand putting in all this extra
(34:38):
time outside of it?
It's just the reasons behind itthat are backing me up to keep
going to reach my goals.
And you know like better myselfas a person.
And I think really that's whatyou know, like finding that is
kind of what keeps me going.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Great answer, anybody else?
Speaker 5 (34:58):
keeps me going.
Great answer, Anybody else?
No quotes.
Well, you said something abouta Bible verse, and one that
really resonates with me is bestill and know that I am your
God, and I think that's sopowerful to people discouraged.
because be still, like right nowI'm shaking right, so like
because I'm nervous, right, orlike when you get scared or when
youble, or when you feel likeyou have anxiety or you feel
like you're going throughsomething hard.
(35:19):
Right, it's hard to take thatmoment of like deep breath and
just center yourself, but that'swhat God can do in our lives,
right?
And you know, having a, likeyou said, who would I want to
have a conversation with Well,as a Christian, I can have it
with him every day in prayer andthings like that, and knowing
that he's always there for me torely on, he's never going to
change, and that's just somotivating for me and that could
(35:43):
get me through a hard time, Iknow.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Yeah, man that's.
I wasn't expecting that, noit's amazing, though.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
I mean it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
It is, and you know I have a this.
This place holds a specialplace in my heart because this
is where I spent 13 years of mylife.
Um, and every time I walk inhere, I just get a good feeling
and, um, what I want to do rightnow is I want to put roxanne on
(36:12):
the mic.
So so come on, roxanne.
I know you weren't expectingthis and I know you don't want
this, but I think it's prettyobvious from hearing these young
men and women's answers totheir questions.
You know how they speak, howthey carry themselves.
(36:36):
I mean, I know that you can't.
If you're watching on YouTuberight now, you can't see
everybody surrounding this place.
You can't see all the lightsand the camera, all the glitz
and glamour and Ben's makeup onhis cheeks and all that stuff.
But there's a reason these kidsare like this, right, and I
know a lot of that is theirparents, but it also falls on
(36:56):
the leadership of the teachers,you being one of those.
So can you talk about becauseyou're new newer to running the
renaissance program, right?
Speaker 19 (37:05):
newer to running it by myself by yourself, yeah
assisted for several years, buttaking the reins and going with
it, yes yes, can you talk aboutwhat the Renaissance program
means to you?
Yeah.
So back to your openingstatement what is Renaissance
and what it makes you think of?
So my youngest child is turning24.
(37:29):
My oldest is in his 30s.
So come through National Trail.
He's in Renaissance.
They're doing activities.
As a parent I was like what isit you're doing, what?
What are you going to what?
What is Renaissance?
Like I had no idea.
Even my second child goesthrough.
I still didn't really have agood idea.
I knew they did things atschool and they were part of
things and it was fun for themand it was active.
(37:51):
But still as a parent or as anoutside community member, I
really didn't know what it wasall about.
And I've always been friendswith Mrs Hoke our kids have
grown up together.
I knew she was super involved.
But again, I didn't knowexactly what all they did in
school.
I wasn't teaching at the schoolat the time.
So then my youngest gets up andshe's all about it.
(38:12):
She's, you know, an officer ofyou know, like these kids
getting out there and puttingyourself out into the community,
to the activities, to theappreciation days, everything.
So I kind of learned with herand then that was the first year
that I kind of got on Like thatwas the first year we took
students to the JostensRenaissance Conference in
(38:33):
Florida.
Because she was like, hey, hey,we're going to do this, we're
going to jump on board.
So that was in.
2018 was my first year as faras actually knowing like, okay,
what's going on?
Now we kind of get it.
So then, you know, I startedkind of getting the feel for
that's when I started teachingin high school at National Trail
.
That's when I was like, oh,okay, I get it.
You know, this is great for thestudents, like this is life,
(38:56):
this is what they're going to bedoing in the future.
And then I moved on to do FCSclasses, which is the same thing
.
It's life skills.
It's what they're going to doforever.
They're going to do all oftheir you know core classes and
they're going to forget it.
They're going to pass it.
They're going to pass it.
They're going to do great.
I support them 100%, butthey're not going to do all of
(39:17):
those for the rest of theirlives.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
You're right.
Speaker 19 (39:19):
It may get them to another step, but Renaissance to
me fits into that life skills,just like my classwork does.
So that's why I felt like I wasa pretty good match for that.
And then we just kept going andgoing and going and getting
involved with other groups, keptgoing and going and going and
getting involved with othergroups, you know, and the kids
kind of caught on like, hey,this is pretty fun, this is
beneficial, I'm helping otherpeople, I'm doing positive
(39:41):
things for my community.
So that's kind of my journeywith it and where it went with
it.
And now we're just going tokeep going.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
So, as we near the end of the school year, with
this being your first officialgroup on your own, what does
this senior group, what do theymean to you?
Speaker 19 (40:01):
Wow.
Well, so the seniors that aresaying that this is their fourth
year as freshmen.
I kind of watched them justjump in.
I knew a little bit but Iwasn't as involved that year
because I was off doing otherthings.
Like just watching the part asthem growing and changing as
(40:21):
individuals has been really goodLast year in Florida at the
conference, just like watchingthem take off and just they can
do this.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 19 (40:33):
And you get the whole like teenagers these days.
Oh my gosh, what are these kidsdoing?
Well, I see the other side ofthat.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Yeah, that's powerful .
Yeah, Now I want you to stay upthere and I want the rest of
you students to come in, andwhat I want is I don't care who
it is, but I want one of you tostep up and I want you to talk
about what Mrs Laird has meantto the program this year.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
So whoever wants to say a few things about Mrs Laird
and her leadership, go ahead.
Okay, so I've known Ms Lairdalmost my whole life, so this is
going to be kind of emotional.
Um, actually, ms Laird isnormally Roxanne to me
personally and some other people.
Um, she was my preschool, so meand my sister both went there.
Um, and I remember seeing MsLaird's family there her
daughters, I would you know.
They were just fun, like all myteachers' kids, like I see them
(41:28):
out in public.
And then Ms Layard was also mycheer coach for all my life.
So Pee Wee I was, she did allmy little dances.
We went to Florida together fornationals, with my sister as
well.
So to most of these studentsthis is like also her kids.
We've grown up with her andwhen she started Renaissance I
think she kind of knew like theygot it.
(41:50):
They got it all the way.
She's known us our whole lifeand she knows we had it in us.
She would push us.
She's honest with us, she'llask us questions, she's not
afraid of our answers and shepushes the students, the staff,
the principals, thesuperintendent, everybody to be
better.
She knows what she wants andshe wants it positive and we're
(42:12):
here to back her up for all ofher hard work.
She puts in so much.
She does so much for all of herclasses, for everyone.
She's never said no, which isnormally a lot for the club,
because we never say no, butit's's always worth it and we
always are here to back her upoh, that's great.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
That's powerful.
Anybody else want to sayanything um?
Speaker 9 (42:31):
I think like a big thing she pointed out is that
she's always honest with us.
Like a lot of the time, adultsand staff like they see us and
like they're like, oh, weshouldn't tell them that we
shouldn't.
Like make sure, like we'retrying to keep it on the low,
like let's not share it.
She's willing to tell us what'sgoing on, even if it's the hard
stuff and stuff that is goingto be something that may be a
lot for us to take on.
She's always willing to be openand have those discussions with
(42:54):
us and she really wants to hearwhat we have to say, which a
lot of times it's not exactlywhat all adults think.
A lot of our community they'relike, what is this club like?
Why are they doing this?
Like?
And she's the complete opposite.
Like she wants us to be able todo what we can do and, like
Bree said, she knows what we cando.
Like we went to Florida lastsummer and we got to talk in
front of a bunch of kids, likehundreds, and she never once
(43:16):
made us do anything we wanted.
Like she let us do what wecould do and never like was
critiquing it nothing and justkept going and telling us we
were doing great, and I thinkthat's really important because,
like for us to be able to beleaders, we have to have a
leader to show us how to, and Ithink she has done that.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
That's pretty awesome .
Speaker 8 (43:32):
I think, like her and Mrs Hoke have just been like
perfect people for this role,like we wouldn't be here without
them.
They've you like we literallywouldn't be doing this podcast
Seriously, like they've helpedus, you know grow the club so
much and you know now we havethey've helped start like the
middle school and elementaryrenaissance too.
So you know, it just keepsgrowing and it's doing great
(43:58):
things because of them.
Speaker 5 (43:59):
So Miss Laird is my aunt and my neighbor, so I see
her quite often Along with that.
I think it's really importantthat all of us recognize how
much of a burden this is on MissLaird in a good way.
But most of the time when yousee Miss Laird in Renaissance
(44:26):
she is would you say stressed isthe right word to use Because
we do so much and she is the onethat sets everything up, makes
sure that we as a group makesure, gets everything done, and
she just does this because shewants to.
Right, like there was noexpectation for her to do this,
she just did it.
Um, and that's meant so much inmy life, growing up with her as
(44:48):
my aunt and to turning into myteacher and to turning into my
renaissance advisor, like it'sjust 360, like insane, um, but I
just wanted to point that out,that she does so much for us
when she doesn't have to, andyeah, that's pretty awesome,
roxanne.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
How does that make you feel Pretty good, makes it
worth it, yeah, yeah, I meanthis is powerful.
I mean this is obviously doinga podcast like this is very new
to us in this type of setting,but I don't think it could have
went any better in this type ofsetting.
But I don't think it could havewent any better.
I mean, you are all a veryimpressive young group of
(45:30):
individuals who are going to besuccessful in life, and it's
nice to hear the positive thingsabout your teacher, because she
is a leader and she's someonethat you want to emulate and
want to follow, and so it'spretty awesome to see.
So last question If there's a,if there's a superintendent out
there, a principal out there whohears this episode and they
(45:53):
want to learn more aboutRenaissance, how can they get
that information?
Speaker 8 (45:59):
Contact us Well we're looking for a high school
principal, so we have socialmedia on everything.
Speaker 7 (46:10):
We've had multiple schools email us.
We have websites for JustNational Trail.
We have our Instagram, oursocial media, our TikTok, all of
it.
We have every single thing.
So when kids see us, whenadults see us, when they want to
reach out to us, we're alwaysgoing to answer.
We're always going to try tomeet up with them.
We're always going to try toget with them because we've seen
the effect that we've it's hadon our school.
(46:30):
We want to make sure that we'rereaching that to the other kids
.
We want to make sure that everyschool in the county has a
renaissance.
Everyone in the county lovesgoing to school everyone in ohio
, if we can even reach that far.
But we're just really hopingthat kids are more willing to go
to school.
It's a more positive experienceand it's not something they
dread every single day of theirlife.
Speaker 3 (46:48):
That's awesome.
So we're in 27 countries.
So for those people who are notin the New Paris Ohio area, I
want to make sure that we'reclear that we are in rural
Preble County, ohio.
What's the graduating classthis year?
Speaker 9 (47:05):
Seventy-five yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Seventy-four-ish, Seventy-five yeah, Somebody on
the fence maybe.
So what a small rural school ineastern or western Ohio on
Interstate 70 can do in a smallway can help so many.
So continue to lead, continueto be a positive influence on
(47:30):
those you come in contact, evenif those people aren't positive.
Back to you, right?
Those are all things you arelearning and you're recognizing
and you're understanding.
So thank you for being on thepodcast.
Speaker 9 (47:42):
Thank you for having us.
You know what they say it'sbetter to be a blazer.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
There you go.
There you go.
All right, everybody, Make sureyou like you share, subscribe.
If there's any administratorsout there at other schools that
want to learn more about theprogram, search up National
Trail and New Paris, Ohio.
You'll be able to get thatinformation there and talk to
Mrs Laird and these awesomestudents and go out and be.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
Hi, my name is Ali Schmidt.
This is my dad, Dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
Thanks, Ali.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass Final replacement
.
Windows from Catron's come witha lifetime warranty, including
accidental glass breakagereplacement.
Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years.
(48:33):
Catron's Glass the clear choice.
Hi, my name is Allie Schmidt.
This is my dad, Dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thanks, allie.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass Final replacement
.
Windows from Catron's come witha lifetime warranty, including
accidental glass breakagereplacement.
Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years.
(00:26):
Kitchen class, the clear choice.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Welcome to the Be Tempered podcast, where we
explore the art of findingbalance in a chaotic world.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
Join us as we delve into insightful conversations,
practical tips and inspiringstories to help you navigate
life's ups and downs with graceand resilience.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
We're your hosts, Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr.
Let's embark on a journey tolive our best lives.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
This is Be Tempered.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
What's up everybody?
Welcome to the Be Temperedpodcast, episode number 54.
You sure?
Yes, Today we have something alittle unique.
We are at National Trail HighSchool in New Paris, Ohio, and
we have a group of students whoare here.
They are with the RenaissanceProgram and about I don't know.
(01:14):
Two or three months ago, I puta challenge out to this group
and I said hey, I'm going todonate some money to the
Renaissance Program, which we'llfind out all about the
Renaissance Program.
I'm going to donate some moneyto the renaissance program,
which we'll find out all aboutthe renaissance program.
I'm going to donate some moneyto the program and if you double
the money, we'll do a podcast.
So here we are.
Yeah, good job guys, yeah herewe are.
(01:34):
Good job, good job so we'regonna we're gonna learn a little
bit about renaissance.
We're gonna learn aboutleadership, where these young
people are at mentally, what,what they look at in a leader,
what a leader looks like, allkinds of different things, so
that we can get a youngindividual's perspective this
day and age.
So, to start off my question toyou, when I think of
(01:56):
Renaissance, I think of going toWaynesville, ohio to the.
Renaissance Festival, seeingpeople dressed up in all that
gothic garb, and that's what Ithink of.
But what we're going to findout is that's not the case.
So introduce yourself, tell uswhat Renaissance is.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Yeah, so I'm Kellen and I'm Kellen, and so
Renaissance is a student ledleadership group that is used to
better the community, create apositive school culture and
climate.
We want to make sure kids wantto come to school, teachers want
to come to school, and we justwant to boost school spirit and
build morale throughout ourschool.
(02:36):
That's really the goal ofRenaissance.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Okay, that's way different than what I thought.
All right, so what does being aleader mean to you, and can
someone be a leader withouthaving a title?
Speaker 6 (02:48):
So I think a leader is someone that steps up to a
position like willingly, theykind of understand that.
They understand that they'regoing to go through hardships
and they have a goal or a viewthat they want to achieve.
But I think a leader has tohave characteristics with that,
so they have to be superopen-minded.
(03:09):
I think if you close that off,you're automatically going to
kind of lose that visionstraight away, and when you're a
leader you're going to havedifferent ideas thrown at you.
You're going to go throughhardships, but I think you're
there for yourself and to gainother people with you.
So as long as you can commit tothat vision and continue that,
then you'll be a great leader.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
That's a good answer.
Yeah, and you're not reading no, that's great.
That's great, All right.
Who's someone in your lifecould be a teacher, a coach?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
a friend who leads by example.
And what do they do differently?
Yeah, so someone that I look atas a leader is my baseball
coach.
His name's Mr Luce, so I thinksomething he does differently
than all my other coaches ishe's able to connect with us
personally while we're off thefield or in between innings or
stuff like that, but then assoon as game time comes, it's a
completely different person andhe's locked in and coaching, and
(04:03):
I think that's a very goodcharacteristic in a leader um
being able to like switch fromdifferent forms um to connect
with who you're leading, andhe's able to get his message
through really well to us byleading by example.
Um, he never does.
He never tells us to dosomething that he's not going to
do.
He never.
He never doesn't take ownershipfor when he messes up the same
(04:25):
way he tells us to do.
And that's hard sometimesbecause obviously everybody
makes mistakes, but he owns upto his mistakes, we own up to
our mistakes and it's just likea two way street of respect and
I think that's something that Isee it's very prevalent in his
life as a leader.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, sounds like sounds like he's a.
He's a great leader.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, and that's the big thing too, because you know,
when you're nobody's perfectnone of us are perfect and
especially when you're coachedand stuff, I mean that's it's a
big thing.
We both coach young, youngathletes, and some of us a
younger age we're like 10, 11year olds where they're still
perfect.
But you know, that's the bigthing, I feel like if you're
open with them, we all makemistakes and I and I feel like
that's a really goodcharacteristic, so I love that
you said that.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Do you think being a leader is easy?
No, as a short answer, the longanswer would be no, but it's
worth it.
So in my eyes, if you're in aleadership role and you see
yourself as wanting to be aleader and you get put into that
position, like Spider-Manalways said, great power comes
with great responsibility right.
(05:32):
So you get that being able totake charge of a team, being
able to have influence onpeople's life but in turn, a lot
of times when you fail, it's onyou as the leader.
Right?
I mean, we see that all thetime in life, let alone in
National Trail.
But I think it's not easybecause one you get, like I said
, you get all the losses on youand you have to deal with so
many different types of peopleas a leader.
(05:53):
If you're, you know you've gotthis kid that you have to
connect with this way, this kid,you know it spreads out.
But I think it's worth it whenyou have accomplishments and you
can celebrate with your teamand your family that you're
leading.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Yeah, that's a good answer.
The highs are high and the lowsare lows, right, and you've
just got to try to staysomewhere in the middle.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
So good answer, all right.
So how can students create amore positive culture in their
schools even without formalroles?
And you guys can go ahead andintroduce yourselves.
Speaker 7 (06:21):
I'm Lexi, I'm a junior.
So basically, yeah, go ahead,morgan, I'm Morgan.
So basically, me and Morgan doa lot of the same things.
We're both in a lot of clubs.
We're both in a lot ofdifferent groups.
But one thing different aboutme and her is that she's a
Renaissance officer and I'm not.
I've taken on a leadership rolein FAA and I've been an officer
(06:42):
in there for many years, butsince we're in the same groups,
I'm involved just as much as sheis.
So you don't have to be anofficer in renaissance.
Because I didn't want to takeon too much and put too much on
my plate, so I decided to nottake a position this year in
renaissance.
But we do the same exact things.
You don't have to be consideredan officer.
You can still be a member andstill be involved.
So we try to urge all of ourmembers and other students that
(07:03):
are wanting to join and wantingto get involved in their school
to just go ahead and stepforward.
You cannot have any dumb ideasin Renaissance.
We try to take everything intoconsideration.
See what we can try to get done, things like that.
You know we try to get everyoneinvolved as much as possible
because we want that positiveimpact in school.
That is the whole point ofRenaissance.
So nice.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
A lot of energy.
I it, I like it all right.
What impact has renaissanceprogram had on your school
spirit and student recognition?
Speaker 8 (07:33):
so I think for me one of the big things is everybody
knows that like I have a lot ofschool spirit.
You know, at the pep rallies,games or whatever, I'm always
big energy and stuff and I'mtrying to get other people
involved and have as much energyas they can too, and I think
renaissance has kind of put thatinto perspective for me.
Uh, when you know, I can walkdown the hallway and then we can
(07:56):
connect with the younger gradesand stuff too, and they'd be
like oh we, we were at your, wewere at the boys game, we saw
Morgan, energetic, loud you, wewant to be like that.
Or we saw how the studentsection was.
We want to be like that.
And I just think gettingeverybody involved has created
so much more of a positiveimpact.
You know, when we go to ourRenaissance rallies, everybody's
(08:17):
getting involved, we're gettingmore energy out of everybody
and I think that's really likethe huge idea.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
That's good, that's good.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Yeah, everybody, and I think that's really like the
huge idea.
That's good.
That's good.
Yeah, how does celebrating thesmall wins, like good attendance
or kindness, help shift theoverall culture and go ahead and
introduce your guys yourselves?
Speaker 9 (08:33):
okay, I'm Isabel and I'm a senior.
I'm Hannah and I'm also asenior.
So, um, like being here forfour years now, we've got to
witness how it's changedthroughout our school.
When I first started, like asfreshman, not a single person in
the hallway was saying hi toeach other, unless they were
friends and me personally, Iknow we wouldn't go up and
compliment anybody, but as we'vebeen through Renaissance, it's
(08:54):
really opened our eyes of justhow saying somebody is worthy of
something or they're loved, howmuch it actually changes the
personality of the people you'retalking to because, like you
never know what somebody's goingthrough, especially when you're
in school.
Like there's kids that aregoing home who absolutely do not
want to be going home, and likeschools are only safe space and
there may be kids that havenever been told that somebody's
(09:16):
proud of them before and likefor somebody to do it,
especially classmates that aretheir own age.
It's incredible and it justmakes everybody like want to
come to school more and be likemore excited to be here.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I guess yeah, those little things, like the small
amounts that we do speak volumes, like in the school, even if
they're bigger or larger yeah,it's important and I think the
key thing that you said and it'sit's the the main reason that
we do the podcast is everybody'sgot a story right.
Everybody in this room has astory and it's different.
Some of you have some prettybig challenges at home.
(09:48):
Some of you don't.
In this school, I'm surethere's many kids who, like you
said, go home in the evening anddon't want to go home.
They may not even get mealsover the weekend.
The only meals they may get arehere at school.
So it's important for you, youngpeople, as leaders, to say
hello, to say good morning, tohave that conversation.
If you see a kid sitting in thelunchroom by himself, sit down
(10:10):
and just introduce yourself andhave that conversation.
That's what being a leader isall about.
You don't have to scream andyell.
You don't have to get everybodyexcited all the time.
There's time for that indifferent aspects of life, but
for the most part, it's justabout being there for other
people.
So good answer of life, but forthe most part, it's just about
being there for other people.
Speaker 9 (10:24):
So I feel like it's also really important to like
talk about the staff too,because, like we normally focus
on just like the students, butlike if students are here and
their staff doesn't want to behere, they're in the teachers to
see on.
Like they seem like down in thedumps, like they don't even
like their job, like if you'relike we recognize the staff like
a lot, like just the other daywe brought flowers to our
offices and just a smile puts ontheir face and it makes them
(10:45):
want to come to work and it justbetter like the whole vibe here
yeah, and it goes back to thesame thing.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
It's not just the kids facing trouble or
difficulties at home.
The staff does too, right theyhave.
They have issues at home,things that they have to deal
with that.
Um, you know that adults haveto deal with that.
Maybe kids don't so it.
So it's important not just withthe kids but with the adults.
So it's pretty awesome.
Good answer.
All right, next up, introduceyourselves who we got here.
Speaker 11 (11:14):
All right, I'm Kylie and I'm a senior and this is my
first year in the program.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
All right, Kylie.
Speaker 12 (11:19):
I'm Jalen and this is my second year.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Come a little closer to the mic.
There, jalen and this is mysecond year come a little closer
to the mic.
Yeah, there we go, all right.
What are the biggest challengeshigh school students face today
that adults might not fullyunderstand?
Speaker 11 (11:33):
I think that one of the biggest challenges the
students face is not being ableto realize that they have a
voice.
So, like I said, this is myfirst year in the program and I
spent my last year.
Last school year was a reallybig struggle for me and I spent
my whole year in Ms Laird's room, so I got to see all of the
things that the Renaissance Clubdid and I realized I really
wanted to be a part of that.
So joining this club gave me avoice and gave me a way to get
(11:54):
my ideas out and realize thatthe things that I do really do
matter.
And I think that that'simportant for students to
realize, because once that theycan see that they are able to
voice their own opinions and getthe things that they want done,
then they'll be in a bettermood and they'll be ready to
face the things that their lifeis going to challenge them with.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
All right, that's a great answer, young man.
Speaker 12 (12:16):
I think, like you guys kind of said, that too,
everybody's different, it'sreally hard to fit in
Everybody's different and Idon't know, it's just hard to
fit in everybody's different,and I don't know, it's just hard
, I don't know.
I don't know, I'm sorry, no, no, you're good so why is it hard?
Speaker 3 (12:34):
because what?
What I, what you might begetting at, is not.
Not everybody is a leader,right, and and just because
you're a part of the renaissanceprogram, where you're trying
trying to shape leadership andto learn about leadership, it
doesn't mean that you're aleader and that's okay.
There's nothing wrong with thatright.
You still have your place inlife, you still have your
purpose in life and you canstill be a good person and a
(12:55):
good individual, right.
Speaker 12 (12:56):
Yeah, I was kind of the same way with Kylie.
I have a couple friend groups,but I kind of don't.
I do sit by myself at lunch,but that's also kind of just
like my calm down.
I just like to cool down fromeverybody, just because I don't
like everybody, and that's allright, because it's just and
(13:19):
that's okay.
Yeah, right, that's okay.
But I really do like to helpeverybody too.
I like to put smiles onpeople's faces and that's really
just a big thing that we dohere.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Well, and I think Ed Milet is a guy who I'm inspired
by.
He's a big podcaster and healways says when you feel
helpless, get helpful, right.
So when you feel like you'redown in the dumps, when you've
had a a bad day, you failed atest or something happened, turn
around and go help somebody.
And again, it can be somethingas simple as just having a
(13:49):
conversation.
Right, you don't have to go outof your way to to to do some
some big, extravagant thing,it's just go have a conversation
with somebody and that'll makeyou feel better.
That'll turn that, turn thatday into a positive, and what
you'll recognize is there's alot of people out there that
have a lot worse than you do.
Right, that's the big thing.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
So good job, good auntie, and it's okay to be an
introvert too, you know, yeah,like not everybody's outgoing
and like that's just becauseyou're not a extrovert, you're
an introvert doesn't mean youcan't help people.
I love that.
Yeah, like you know, you stilltake that confidence and go, try
to help people.
So the second part of thequestion how has social media
helped or hurt your generationwhen it comes to confidence,
(14:28):
connection and leadership?
Speaker 7 (14:31):
So there's so many pros and cons to social media.
We've grown up in a generationwhere that's what we've been
surrounded with since we've beenborn and so you know we've had
to experience both the pros andcons pretty much everyone has.
So there's many cons.
We've had to experience thecons.
You can't get on social mediawithout, you know, seeing
something you don't want to see,hearing something you don't
(14:51):
want to hear.
That's just the experience thatwe have now in this day and age
.
So it ruins people's, like thecons are.
It ruins people's perceptionsof themselves.
You know the way people viewthemselves.
It can tear down theirself-confidence a million times
over and over again.
It opens a big way forcyberbullying and for people to
kind of you know, tear peopledown, which isn't the intent of
(15:12):
it.
But people are going to usethings the way they want to use
things, so you can't reallycontrol that.
You know they can post whateverthey want.
They can tear things down.
So you can be a leader onsocial media but at the same
time there's so many cons thatyou really have to be careful
what you watch and what you seeand what shows up on like your
for you page or what you see onInstagram and stuff like that.
Speaker 9 (15:35):
And like I truly like she said, like all the cons and
most of those, if you just flipit and look at it from a
different perspective, they'reall pros, so you can find people
that you may have never seenbefore in your life like we.
Like we met people at aconference we went to last year
schools that are in states awayand we still can keep like
contact with them and see whatthey're doing and we can get new
(15:55):
ideas from it.
But, like she said, likethere's also really bad things
that come along with it.
But if I'm somebody who's onthere and I may find not have
friends in person, but if I havefriends online, that may give
me something to look forward toevery day.
It really just depends on howyou use it yourself.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Yeah, you're right.
I always in my mind, you canchange your algorithm, right?
You know, you, what you look at, what you like, what you click
on, what you share, that thatforms that algorithm and whether
it's Instagram, snapchat,TikTok, whatever it is algorithm
, and whether it's Instagram,snapchat, tiktok, whatever it is
, whatever social media thatyou're on, there are a lot of
positive things out there, butthere are also, like you said,
(16:32):
there's, a lot of negativethings.
How many people post that theyhad a bad day?
Speaker 7 (16:38):
Not many.
It's a very fake world outthere most of the time.
That's right.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And as young people you have to keep that in
perspective.
You know Ben and I are old menat least Ben is and you know so
we weren't raised with socialmedia.
That didn't come.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
I don't even know when that came for me it came
out when I was in high school,so somebody's an old man.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
I was in the working force then.
But people can post, they canmake things look extravagant.
I mean, you can go rent aLamborghini and you can take a
picture with a Lamborghini andmake it look like you own a
Lamborghini, but you don't.
That's all fake stuff.
So I would encourage you, ifyou're looking through your feed
and all of a sudden you juststart sucking the life out of
you like man.
(17:22):
There's fights, there's allthis negative stuff on here
start looking at something else.
Start looking for that positive.
Go to the be tempered podcast.
Go check that out.
There's some positive stuffthere, right?
So, yeah, you're right, socialmedia is a huge influence on
this generation, way more than Imean.
I have no clue about how itaffects everybody, but you can
(17:43):
make that negative a positive,yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
I mean it can be super positive, super helpful
not to shamelessly plug our ownsocial media.
But Renaissance.
We post on there all the time.
We try to, you know, have allof our students follow it, all
of our staff follow it, and thenso we try to recognize our
students, our members, of whatwe're doing and what we're going
out to do.
So then we're connecting withother Renaissance clubs.
This is how they reach out tous.
(18:05):
This is how we share all of ourcommunity service things that
we want our community to come to, all of our events, everything
like that.
So it can be really helpful.
You just have to make sure thatyou're trying to stay on the
right algorithm and make surethat you're watching the right
stuff, especially as teenagers,because it can really change
change the way you perceive theworld and the way it's going to
be when you're, when you grow upand you graduate high school
yeah, that's great, all right.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Next question what kind of pressure do you feel
when it comes to grades, sportsor being successful?
Speaker 13 (18:36):
yeah.
So I'm miranda and I'm a seniorand it's really hard keeping up
and having good grades, as wellas like being in sports and
being involved in a lot of clubslike I'm in Renaissance and FFA
and NHS.
So, like pressure for myparents to have those good
grades is definitely veryhelpful, because that's what's
gotten me into college and it'sgetting me the scholarships I
(18:57):
need to pay for that.
But at the same time, it's beenstressful sometimes with, like
trying to make sure my gradesare as high as they can be and
things like that yeah.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
So I think one thing is like in life, everybody sets
goals and everybody hasdifferent goals that they set.
So my goals might be differentfrom other people in my grade or
other people in the school orjust any people like my age.
But I think it's all about likeyou as a person, and obviously
there is stress when it comes togrades and everything, but for
(19:27):
me it's really just as long asI'm doing the best that I can
possibly do, then I feel likethat's what I'm succeeding in in
life and that, even if you know, like I were to get a bad grade
or something, that that one badgrade isn't gonna define who I
am as a person and that I'mstill you know, I'm still smart,
even if I do bad on a test.
(19:48):
Like you know, as long as I'mdoing the best that I can, I
think that's what matters.
So, like, within the stress,it's just finding the little
things like to make it seembetter.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Yeah, Great answers.
And that's the key that you'llfind as you mature and as you
get older and get married andmaybe have a family and get into
the real world is, in myopinion, the key to being
successful in whatever you'regoing to do is just being
consistent.
Just being consistent to try toreach whatever that goal is
(20:20):
doing, whatever it takes toreach.
You know to do that everysingle day to get to that goal.
Consistency is key.
So great answers.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
What do you wish more adults would ask or talk to you
guys about?
Speaker 14 (20:36):
do you wish more adults would ask or talk to you
guys about Okay, I'm HaydenDavies and I'm a junior this
year, so I would say thatobviously things have really
changed, probably since you guyswere in middle school or high
school, and it's something likesocial media especially.
I mean you said it was when youwere right out of high school
and you were still in highschool.
Humor has definitely changed, Iwould say.
And like like fashion, I wishthat you know.
(20:56):
The older generations wouldmaybe ask like what do what does
that joke mean?
Even if it's maybe not actuallythe funniest or the most
appropriate.
Like I don't know, I think thatwould build a better connection
.
Or like what is the appeal withthat fashion trend?
Like I don't know somethinglike that.
Speaker 15 (21:13):
My name is Jalen, I'm a sophomore and I think that
the parents, or like adults,should maybe, as high schoolers,
not treat us like such kids andgive us more of a realistic,
because right out of high schoolwe're going to be in the job
force, we're going to be workingor through college and
(21:35):
nothing's going to be babied forus anymore.
So I feel like we should startoff with that in high school or
as we get older, and the adultsshould just treat us more as
adults.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
So do you feel like there's this protective umbrella
over top of you?
Speaker 15 (21:49):
Yeah, just a little bit, especially like from our
parents.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
They don't want us to grow up, but we're obviously
going to as we get older and Ican speak as a parent that
that's a hard thing and you'llfind this out as you become a
parent.
You, you know every, everyparent you talk to.
They always say I want my kidto have it better than I had it
right.
Well, I, I think you know, withke, kevin and Ben and I and Mrs
(22:14):
Laird in here, I think we wouldall tell you the same thing
when we've learned the most,where we've grown the most, is
in those difficult times.
Those struggles, whatever itmight be, the hardest times I've
had in my life, are the onesthat I remember.
I don't remember all the wins.
I don't remember, you know, thegreat days.
(22:35):
I remember the struggles andwhat I learned from that.
And as a parent, it's hard, it'shard to do that.
So I'm not going to defend yourparents, even though I know who
they are.
But you know maybe that maybe,as as young adults as you all
are, maybe you say, hey, let metry this.
If I fall on my face and I fail, I'm going to learn from it.
(22:55):
Right, I think maybe sometimesyou younger kids, if you feel
that pull, if you feel like whyare they protecting me, why are
they doing this, just say, heylook, let me give it a try.
I might fail, but what's theworst thing that can happen?
Right, you're going to learnfrom it, right?
So I think that's key and, likeI said, I'm going to defend the
parents a little bit, but I getit and it's.
It's interesting to hear thatfrom you.
Speaker 14 (23:18):
Yeah, I also feel like in a lot of ways too, as
far as like the school aspect ofit is, like teachers and just
the way that all schools arekind of like built to run, is
they train us to test and tograduate and they forget about
the fact that we still have likemaybe 50 years after we get out
of here.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
We don't want to talk about all that.
It's a whole different realm,but you guys are on the right
path, doing Renaissance.
I mean, this is a great thingto give you some real life, real
world experience.
So great answers.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
I do love that answer too.
I feel like that's notsomething we were expecting.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
No, I wasn't yeah, for sure that's good.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
It's a good one for the parents to take note of.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
That's right, all right.
If you could give advice toincoming freshmen, what would it
be?
Speaker 16 (24:04):
So I'm Caitlin and I'm a senior and looking back on
my four years I woulddefinitely tell not only my
freshman self but all thefreshmen coming in to not change
for other people, like yourfriend groups, don't feel that
pressure.
I used to be a really bigpeople pleaser.
I would say yes to everythingkind of feel bad.
But I had to learn myself toset those boundaries even if it
(24:25):
didn't make other people happy.
But I had to put my happinessand my future above anything
else.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
That's a great answer , great answer.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
So mine kind of goes off of Caitlin's.
I would say get comfortablewith change.
And from freshman to senioryear, I can't.
I can give you a whole list ofhow many things has changed.
And my next year going tocollege, I already know how much
change is coming my way.
And I was someone who was shy.
I would get nervous.
I'm a whole different personnow.
I remember going to myconference last year for
(24:52):
Renaissance and I was speakingand the girl was like, how are
you so good at public speaking?
And I was like me, like you'retalking to me right now?
And she's like, yeah, well, Ihave a student like I just want
to know if you have any tips.
And I was like, oh, this justhappened today like.
I can't tell you and I was.
That's when it really clicked,like okay, my personality is
finally developing, like I thinkI'm going to be an independent
(25:14):
person for college, I have myown personality and I'm getting
out of my house, where then Ican really just blossom to the
person I want to be.
But I also think that everyperson should be changing, and
if you're not changing, you'reprobably doing something wrong.
And change can be good and bad,and I think if you focus on the
good and what you want tobecome, that's where change is
very important.
So I think a freshman should becomfortable with it now,
(25:37):
because it's going to happenevery year, it's going to happen
every month.
You've got to get used to itnow.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Yeah, that's, that's great answer.
We talk about get comfortable,being uncomfortable, right?
I mean that?
That is that is very true, andyou hit the nail on the head.
So good answers, both of youAll right.
How do we stay motivated andinspired when things aren't
going your way?
Speaker 17 (26:00):
Okay, my name is Kinsey, I'm a sophomore and I
feel like staying motivated issomething really hard that we
all struggle with, whetheryou're a kid or whether you're
an adult, because, like, we'reall waking up and we're going
through our struggles, like anadult is going to work, a kid's
going to school or whatever itmight be a sport, it's
repetitive and it's exhausting,and staying motivated is
(26:20):
something that we all strugglewith.
I feel like everyone does, andI feel like something that's
always stuck with me is that,like this quote is do it
exhausted, do it tired, do ithappy, do it sad.
Just do it with whatever youhave in you, because not
everybody gets to do that, noteverybody gets to say, okay, I'm
(26:42):
, I'm in track.
Not everybody gets to go runaround the track, not everybody
gets to wake up every, everymorning and go be active.
And I just feel like somethingthat like just truly motivates
me is that quote it and itinspires me to push myself each
and every day do you know whosaid that quote?
Speaker 3 (27:02):
no, jocko Willink.
He's a.
He's a former Navy SEAL.
So that's a great quote, andthat's discipline is what it is.
Is that what you got, kellen um?
Speaker 5 (27:11):
yeah, I think like different ways you can stay
motivated or inspiring that havehelped me a lot is, um, like
relying on the people around you.
Um, you know, a lot of times ifyou're going through a
situation or a hardship andyou're struggling to find the
motivation to wake up every dayand get out of bed and go to
school for students and you knowstudents like us um, then you
(27:31):
know, maybe ask your friends orask people around you like to
hype you up a little bit.
You know like it helps a lotwhen you feel that other people
want me to do this too, not justmyself.
You know other people look atme and say you know I want the
best for him.
So then you can want the bestfor yourself, and I think I
think that's really powerfulwhen it comes to motivating and
(27:51):
inspiring yourself, for sure.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
Yeah, yeah.
So who you surround yourselfwith, iron sharpens.
Speaker 5 (27:56):
Iron, that's what I always go off of, and if you
surround yourself people youwant to be, that's who you're
most likely going to becomeright yeah, and I think, also
there, there needs to be more ofan importance placed on finding
yourself uh, you know,motivation and things like that,
because I feel like that's partof the center of our whole
being is being motivated, right,like nothing you do in life can
be done to the best of itsability if you don't have
(28:18):
motivation behind it, if youhave no why or no reason to do
something, then you're not goingto give it your all and you're
not going to do it the best youcan.
So I think there needs to bemore of an importance placed on
that, especially in schools,because you know teachers say,
well, you know you just need toget it done.
Right, get it done, get it done.
Well, why do I need to get itdone?
(28:39):
That gives me motivation, youknow, yeah, so I think that's
part of something that needs tochange throughout schools is
giving us the why, because thewhy is why we want to do it.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Motivation, you know yeah, good answer, a really good
answer.
What's one small thing everystudent could do this week to
make their school better?
Speaker 10 (28:57):
okay.
So I'm Claire and this is myfirst year in renaissance, so
like the easy answer would be goout the week with a positive
attitude.
I think it's so easy, likenowadays, for kids to go to
school and be like, oh, I hateschool, I don't want to go to
class, or just like look at itso negatively.
And so I think just going outthe week with positive attitude
and really just looking at thegood things, like you see
(29:18):
someone in the hallway you don'tknow, say hi.
I say hi to like anyone becauseI don't care.
Like what are they going to do?
Say like no.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Like no, they're going to say hi.
Speaker 10 (29:25):
Or like talked about seeing people eating alone at
lunch.
Go sit with them Like what'sthe worst, like you're literally
just going to eat your food andyou can spark a conversation
and just talk.
Like nothing bad will come fromhaving a positive attitude.
Like go up to someone and tella joke okay, I love jokes, I
tell jokes all the time Likejust really the positive
(29:49):
attitude about it, and thatcould really just make it better
.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Good answer.
Speaker 18 (29:51):
Hey, I'm Taryn.
This is also my first New YearRenaissance.
But I know for a lot of peopleit's hard to stay positive and
like to go through thingsthroughout the day and like you
never know what someone's goingthrough.
So like walking through thehalls and just like what Claire
said, just saying hi to them, orlike giving them a compliment,
like hey, I like your hair, hey,I like your shirt, that can
really make someone's day andyou really don't know it.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
So, yeah, yeah, and that's you know.
It's all about compounding,right?
You say you know, if you see ayoung student, a fifth grade
student, you say hi to themevery day, you develop a
relationship every day with them.
They may do the same thing witha second grader.
You know who's struggling.
So it's all about compoundingthose positive things.
So, great answers, ladies,great answers.
All right, we're getting downto the end here, all right?
(30:37):
So this is where we should havesome powerful answers.
Okay, you guys have knocked itout of the park, but let's see
what we got.
So we always end the podcastwith these last two questions
and you guys can fire awayhowever you want to go.
If you could have aconversation with someone,
living or deceased, who would itbe and why?
Speaker 5 (31:02):
I think all of us, we kind of like, talked about this
a little bit and we all havethe same answer and this is not,
you know, a certain answer fora certain reason.
But we all said Jesus, I thinkwe all are Christian.
But that's not you don't like,but, I think, the reason why I
don't know what to assume.
But we, we wanted to all talkto Jesus because you know it's,
(31:27):
he's such a big part of all ofour lives, you know, and he's
such a great role model, right?
So when someone comes up to meand says you know who's, like,
your biggest role model, right,I always say Jesus.
And I think that's for me andespecially in our aspect in life
and schools.
Right, like, you know, I feellike there's kind of been a
thing, like in schools where wedon't talk about religion.
(31:48):
Right, there's like a what'sthe word?
Not by like teachers, not bylike teachers, but students,
like among ourselves, right,like it's.
It feels like there's like anegative connotation to talking
about religion, like, oh, weshouldn't be talking about that,
right?
But I think, I think, if, if Ihad a conversation with Jesus
(32:11):
first off, that would be crazy,but it would kind of, it would
shape me to be a better leaderfor one, talking about what
we've been talking about RightCause he was the best leader in
my opinion.
I mean he led.
He led all throughout the youknow, all throughout the
promised land.
He led people in scriptures, heled people in preaching, and
(32:34):
that would help me as anindividual, like outside of my
spiritual being as well, beingable to like learn from him and
have him guide me.
But anybody have anything elseto add about?
Speaker 9 (32:45):
that I feel like he said, like a lot of us, like
we're looking to Jesus for ouranswer, like a lot of times we
get lost and we don't knowexactly where we're going next.
And I know, like me personally,like I'm looking to him and
seeing what he's saying to me,to like be able to do, like
without him, like I would notprobably be able to do half the
stuff I'm doing, like he'sputting me in these positions to
have all these opportunities,and like we have to give thanks
(33:07):
to him.
And like I know the saying islike what would Jesus do and
wear it on the wrist all thetime?
Like I don't know if everybodyreally thinks about it, but if
we like strive to live more likehim and like answer in ways he
would, I think that can help usget further along.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I'll tell you the rest of your life.
That's probably where you needto keep looking for your answers
, Cause if you do that, you'regoing to be successful.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
Yeah that's right.
Other ladies got anything toadd?
Does anyone else have havesomeone that they that may be
different that they want to talkabout?
This is your chance.
Nobody.
All right, we'll move to thefinal question.
(33:47):
You guys have any closingthoughts?
Are there any quotes?
Could be a bible verse thatwhen times are tough and when
you've had a bad day or you'redown in the dumps, or maybe
you've lost a loved one, youknow, maybe there's been
something tragic that hashappened where you know it's
just knocked the wind out ofyour sails.
(34:08):
Is there a quote?
Is there something that youfall back on that gets you
through that time?
Speaker 8 (34:16):
you fall back on.
That gets you through that time.
I think for me, one of thethings is and it was briefly
mentioned kind of earliertalking about it's like finding
your why and finding you knowwhat you're doing, why you're
doing it, what your purpose isfor it, and that's what really
kind of keeps me going.
Is you know, why am I, you know, trying so hard in school, why
am I trying so hard in sportsand putting in all this extra
(34:38):
time outside of it?
It's just the reasons behind itthat are backing me up to keep
going to reach my goals.
And you know like better myselfas a person.
And I think really that's whatyou know, like finding that is
kind of what keeps me going.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Great answer, anybody else?
Speaker 5 (34:58):
keeps me going.
Great answer, Anybody else?
No quotes.
Well, you said something abouta Bible verse, and one that
really resonates with me is bestill and know that I am your
God, and I think that's sopowerful to people discouraged.
because be still, like right nowI'm shaking right, so like
because I'm nervous, right, orlike when you get scared or when
youble, or when you feel likeyou have anxiety or you feel
like you're going throughsomething hard.
(35:19):
Right, it's hard to take thatmoment of like deep breath and
just center yourself, but that'swhat God can do in our lives,
right?
And you know, having a, likeyou said, who would I want to
have a conversation with Well,as a Christian, I can have it
with him every day in prayer andthings like that, and knowing
that he's always there for me torely on, he's never going to
change, and that's just somotivating for me and that could
(35:43):
get me through a hard time, Iknow.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Yeah, man that's.
I wasn't expecting that, noit's amazing, though.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
I mean it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
It is, and you know I have a this.
This place holds a specialplace in my heart because this
is where I spent 13 years of mylife.
Um, and every time I walk inhere, I just get a good feeling
and, um, what I want to do rightnow is I want to put roxanne on
(36:12):
the mic.
So so come on, roxanne.
I know you weren't expectingthis and I know you don't want
this, but I think it's prettyobvious from hearing these young
men and women's answers totheir questions.
You know how they speak, howthey carry themselves.
(36:36):
I mean, I know that you can't.
If you're watching on YouTuberight now, you can't see
everybody surrounding this place.
You can't see all the lightsand the camera, all the glitz
and glamour and Ben's makeup onhis cheeks and all that stuff.
But there's a reason these kidsare like this, right, and I
know a lot of that is theirparents, but it also falls on
(36:56):
the leadership of the teachers,you being one of those.
So can you talk about becauseyou're new newer to running the
renaissance program, right?
Speaker 19 (37:05):
newer to running it by myself by yourself, yeah
assisted for several years, buttaking the reins and going with
it, yes yes, can you talk aboutwhat the Renaissance program
means to you?
Yeah.
So back to your openingstatement what is Renaissance
and what it makes you think of?
So my youngest child is turning24.
(37:29):
My oldest is in his 30s.
So come through National Trail.
He's in Renaissance.
They're doing activities.
As a parent I was like what isit you're doing, what?
What are you going to what?
What is Renaissance?
Like I had no idea.
Even my second child goesthrough.
I still didn't really have agood idea.
I knew they did things atschool and they were part of
things and it was fun for themand it was active.
(37:51):
But still as a parent or as anoutside community member, I
really didn't know what it wasall about.
And I've always been friendswith Mrs Hoke our kids have
grown up together.
I knew she was super involved.
But again, I didn't knowexactly what all they did in
school.
I wasn't teaching at the schoolat the time.
So then my youngest gets up andshe's all about it.
(38:12):
She's, you know, an officer ofyou know, like these kids
getting out there and puttingyourself out into the community,
to the activities, to theappreciation days, everything.
So I kind of learned with herand then that was the first year
that I kind of got on Like thatwas the first year we took
students to the JostensRenaissance Conference in
(38:33):
Florida.
Because she was like, hey, hey,we're going to do this, we're
going to jump on board.
So that was in.
2018 was my first year as faras actually knowing like, okay,
what's going on?
Now we kind of get it.
So then, you know, I startedkind of getting the feel for
that's when I started teachingin high school at National Trail
.
That's when I was like, oh,okay, I get it.
You know, this is great for thestudents, like this is life,
(38:56):
this is what they're going to bedoing in the future.
And then I moved on to do FCSclasses, which is the same thing
.
It's life skills.
It's what they're going to doforever.
They're going to do all oftheir you know core classes and
they're going to forget it.
They're going to pass it.
They're going to pass it.
They're going to do great.
I support them 100%, butthey're not going to do all of
(39:17):
those for the rest of theirlives.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
You're right.
Speaker 19 (39:19):
It may get them to another step, but Renaissance to
me fits into that life skills,just like my classwork does.
So that's why I felt like I wasa pretty good match for that.
And then we just kept going andgoing and going and getting
involved with other groups, keptgoing and going and going and
getting involved with othergroups, you know, and the kids
kind of caught on like, hey,this is pretty fun, this is
beneficial, I'm helping otherpeople, I'm doing positive
(39:41):
things for my community.
So that's kind of my journeywith it and where it went with
it.
And now we're just going tokeep going.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
So, as we near the end of the school year, with
this being your first officialgroup on your own, what does
this senior group, what do theymean to you?
Speaker 19 (40:01):
Wow.
Well, so the seniors that aresaying that this is their fourth
year as freshmen.
I kind of watched them justjump in.
I knew a little bit but Iwasn't as involved that year
because I was off doing otherthings.
Like just watching the part asthem growing and changing as
(40:21):
individuals has been really goodLast year in Florida at the
conference, just like watchingthem take off and just they can
do this.
Speaker 3 (40:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 19 (40:33):
And you get the whole like teenagers these days.
Oh my gosh, what are these kidsdoing?
Well, I see the other side ofthat.
Speaker 3 (40:42):
Yeah, that's powerful .
Yeah, Now I want you to stay upthere and I want the rest of
you students to come in, andwhat I want is I don't care who
it is, but I want one of you tostep up and I want you to talk
about what Mrs Laird has meantto the program this year.
Speaker 6 (41:06):
So whoever wants to say a few things about Mrs Laird
and her leadership, go ahead.
Okay, so I've known Ms Lairdalmost my whole life, so this is
going to be kind of emotional.
Um, actually, ms Laird isnormally Roxanne to me
personally and some other people.
Um, she was my preschool, so meand my sister both went there.
Um, and I remember seeing MsLaird's family there her
daughters, I would you know.
They were just fun, like all myteachers' kids, like I see them
(41:28):
out in public.
And then Ms Layard was also mycheer coach for all my life.
So Pee Wee I was, she did allmy little dances.
We went to Florida together fornationals, with my sister as
well.
So to most of these studentsthis is like also her kids.
We've grown up with her andwhen she started Renaissance I
think she kind of knew like theygot it.
(41:50):
They got it all the way.
She's known us our whole lifeand she knows we had it in us.
She would push us.
She's honest with us, she'llask us questions, she's not
afraid of our answers and shepushes the students, the staff,
the principals, thesuperintendent, everybody to be
better.
She knows what she wants andshe wants it positive and we're
(42:12):
here to back her up for all ofher hard work.
She puts in so much.
She does so much for all of herclasses, for everyone.
She's never said no, which isnormally a lot for the club,
because we never say no, butit's's always worth it and we
always are here to back her upoh, that's great.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
That's powerful.
Anybody else want to sayanything um?
Speaker 9 (42:31):
I think like a big thing she pointed out is that
she's always honest with us.
Like a lot of the time, adultsand staff like they see us and
like they're like, oh, weshouldn't tell them that we
shouldn't.
Like make sure, like we'retrying to keep it on the low,
like let's not share it.
She's willing to tell us what'sgoing on, even if it's the hard
stuff and stuff that is goingto be something that may be a
lot for us to take on.
She's always willing to be openand have those discussions with
(42:54):
us and she really wants to hearwhat we have to say, which a
lot of times it's not exactlywhat all adults think.
A lot of our community they'relike, what is this club like?
Why are they doing this?
Like?
And she's the complete opposite.
Like she wants us to be able todo what we can do and, like
Bree said, she knows what we cando.
Like we went to Florida lastsummer and we got to talk in
front of a bunch of kids, likehundreds, and she never once
(43:16):
made us do anything we wanted.
Like she let us do what wecould do and never like was
critiquing it nothing and justkept going and telling us we
were doing great, and I thinkthat's really important because,
like for us to be able to beleaders, we have to have a
leader to show us how to, and Ithink she has done that.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
That's pretty awesome .
Speaker 8 (43:32):
I think, like her and Mrs Hoke have just been like
perfect people for this role,like we wouldn't be here without
them.
They've you like we literallywouldn't be doing this podcast
Seriously, like they've helpedus, you know grow the club so
much and you know now we havethey've helped start like the
middle school and elementaryrenaissance too.
So you know, it just keepsgrowing and it's doing great
(43:58):
things because of them.
Speaker 5 (43:59):
So Miss Laird is my aunt and my neighbor, so I see
her quite often Along with that.
I think it's really importantthat all of us recognize how
much of a burden this is on MissLaird in a good way.
But most of the time when yousee Miss Laird in Renaissance
(44:26):
she is would you say stressed isthe right word to use Because
we do so much and she is the onethat sets everything up, makes
sure that we as a group makesure, gets everything done, and
she just does this because shewants to.
Right, like there was noexpectation for her to do this,
she just did it.
Um, and that's meant so much inmy life, growing up with her as
(44:48):
my aunt and to turning into myteacher and to turning into my
renaissance advisor, like it'sjust 360, like insane, um, but I
just wanted to point that out,that she does so much for us
when she doesn't have to, andyeah, that's pretty awesome,
roxanne.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
How does that make you feel Pretty good, makes it
worth it, yeah, yeah, I meanthis is powerful.
I mean this is obviously doinga podcast like this is very new
to us in this type of setting,but I don't think it could have
went any better in this type ofsetting.
But I don't think it could havewent any better.
I mean, you are all a veryimpressive young group of
(45:30):
individuals who are going to besuccessful in life, and it's
nice to hear the positive thingsabout your teacher, because she
is a leader and she's someonethat you want to emulate and
want to follow, and so it'spretty awesome to see.
So last question If there's a,if there's a superintendent out
there, a principal out there whohears this episode and they
(45:53):
want to learn more aboutRenaissance, how can they get
that information?
Speaker 8 (45:59):
Contact us Well we're looking for a high school
principal, so we have socialmedia on everything.
Speaker 7 (46:10):
We've had multiple schools email us.
We have websites for JustNational Trail.
We have our Instagram, oursocial media, our TikTok, all of
it.
We have every single thing.
So when kids see us, whenadults see us, when they want to
reach out to us, we're alwaysgoing to answer.
We're always going to try tomeet up with them.
We're always going to try toget with them because we've seen
the effect that we've it's hadon our school.
(46:30):
We want to make sure that we'rereaching that to the other kids
.
We want to make sure that everyschool in the county has a
renaissance.
Everyone in the county lovesgoing to school everyone in ohio
, if we can even reach that far.
But we're just really hopingthat kids are more willing to go
to school.
It's a more positive experienceand it's not something they
dread every single day of theirlife.
Speaker 3 (46:48):
That's awesome.
So we're in 27 countries.
So for those people who are notin the New Paris Ohio area, I
want to make sure that we'reclear that we are in rural
Preble County, ohio.
What's the graduating classthis year?
Speaker 9 (47:05):
Seventy-five yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Seventy-four-ish, Seventy-five yeah, Somebody on
the fence maybe.
So what a small rural school ineastern or western Ohio on
Interstate 70 can do in a smallway can help so many.
So continue to lead, continueto be a positive influence on
(47:30):
those you come in contact, evenif those people aren't positive.
Back to you, right?
Those are all things you arelearning and you're recognizing
and you're understanding.
So thank you for being on thepodcast.
Speaker 9 (47:42):
Thank you for having us.
You know what they say it'sbetter to be a blazer.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
There you go.
There you go.
All right, everybody, Make sureyou like you share, subscribe.
If there's any administratorsout there at other schools that
want to learn more about theprogram, search up National
Trail and New Paris, Ohio.
You'll be able to get thatinformation there and talk to
Mrs Laird and these awesomestudents and go out and be.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
Hi, my name is Ali Schmidt.
This is my dad, Dan.
He owns Catron's Glass.
Speaker 2 (48:11):
Thanks, Ali.
Things like doors and windowsgo into making a house, but when
it's your home you expect morelike the great service and
selection you'll get fromCatron's Glass Final replacement
.
Windows from Catron's come witha lifetime warranty, including
accidental glass breakagereplacement.
Also ask for custom showerdoors and many other products
and services.
Call 962-1636.
Locally owned, with localemployees for nearly 30 years.
(48:33):
Catron's Glass the clear choice.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.