My friend Kelly Hazel wrote what I’m sharing below when I announced my birthday fundraiser for the foundation last week. Her words are so insightful about the needs of creative kids. If you are moved to do so, please contribute on Facebook, or click here.
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(Susan Ward of the Rader Ward Foundation) is one of my dear friends. We met years ago when Jacob was in Taekwondo. We didn’t talk much, because she was IN class and I was on the side watching, but I admired her courage on the mats. We connected on Facebook, and I saw that her energy extended far beyond the Taekwondo mats. She was always doing: accomplishing, helping, caring, learning, and creating.
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When a battle against mental illness took her son Rader’s life, even her grief took the form of creating, helping, accomplishing.
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First, she wrote. I suppose her motive was to work through her own grief, but her words profoundly impacted many others, including myself, in a variety of ways.
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Then, she established the Rader Ward Foundation. This foundation celebrates Rader’s life and his unique character by providing opportunities for creative children like Rader to experience the joy of Montessori learning.
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Exceptionally unconventional and creative students often struggle in conventional schools despite high intelligence. Their inventive nature and unique perspectives open doors to solutions that conventional minds may never stumble upon, but when they are confined to a traditional standard that stifles that character, they are forced to focus so much on the difficult task of conformity that those opportunities for growth are lost.
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By donating to Rader Ward Foundation, you are not only helping unconventional students like Rader find an academic place where they can learn effectively, you are helping everyone who might someday benefit from the new and unconventional ideas, perspectives, and knowledge that will manifest because these unique spirits were embraced and allowed to thrive.
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It’s important.
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#bitsofpositivity #montessoriquotes#montessorischolarships #montessori#unconventionalstudents#creativekids #alternativeeducation#fundraiser
