To my friends who reach farther than the rule book suggests I commend you
You have chosen to laugh off no’s and let your desires grow
Knowledge over everything is the drum beating to your life’s direction
Placing you in a state of perpetual development
Others opinions on your dreams fall short because they’re irrelevant
You my friend have found purpose
Each step you take is intentional
Books you read intentional
Words you speak intentional
Bricks being placed in the castle of your potential
The oppression you face is extra weight meant to build strength and put you in the place to strive when all others crumble
When they say “no” accept it as a challenge
Creativity is your comparative advantage
If you want it bad enough you will find a way
To my friends who’ve been displaced by ridiculous sentences absorb this message it’s different than the rest of them
There is hope
But only if you have faith
Accompanied by courage to take what you already have and become something great
Adversity is our biggest asset
And once you understand that
You have taken back your power.
If you are interested in reading more of Noah's poems, he has written his first book of poetry, Morse Code Kisses, available online.
Chad Paulson, General Counsel at Blount International and has been a member of the Janus Board of Directors since 2005, serving as Board President from 2011-2012. He has two children and when not running after his three-year old, enjoys playing golf.
“Janus Youth changed my life in so many ways,” says 28 year-old, Kristin Sanchez. As a teen mom, struggling in a violent relationship and trying to find stable housing, Kristin came to Insights Teen Parent Program for support.
When 14-year-old Bella told her mother she wanted to organize her own “Family Fun Run” to benefit Janus Youth Programs, her mom thought, “Why don’t you just run in a race instead?” But Bella had a vision and a strong drive to organize the event herself, which she did on May 20th at the Wilson High School track. Every detail of the event—from garnering donations for swag items, applying for a grant to help offset costs, organizing a bake sale, to publicity—Bella planned with support from family and friends. The event was a big success and raised close to $1,000 for Janus.