What Does It Take to Succeed?

A Vision 

After running Pathways for over 20 years, I have been told more often than not, that many things we set out to do could never be done. How can you get children to include each other and work together? How can you get children to sing together in a rock band and perform alongside the Jonas Brothers? How can you get children with disabilities employed at higher rates? How can you get them off of grocery bagging lines and into the science professions? Like many people, I  also at some points, never thought this could be done. What kept me going?  I was willing to try because somebody had a vision. No matter how small there has always been somebody with a vision that has carried us through to accomplishing more than we ever thought possible. Do you have a vision to do something beyond what you hoped for?

Taking Small Steps:

In 2018, I had a middle school mentor approach me to begin a robotics program. I was in complete shock and thought I was going to need a defibrillator to get me off the floor. How in the world would we ever get kids of all abilities interested in robotics and parents believing they could? After all, this area of the science and engineering has been out of reach for many children. Despite the shock, I picked myself up off the floor and bought our first robot for $600. We had 3 kids in our first robotics class of all abilities. Today, we have over 75 kids in our programs with 30 robots. In addition we also have computer programming. The kids start as young as kindergarten.  How did we do it? We started small, failed a tremendous amount, BUT never quit!

Never Quit!

This past Saturday, Pathways competed LIVE for the first time at the First Lego League Challenge competition in Mount Olive, New Jersey. Our team was made up of boys, most of whom were ages 8-10.  It was kind of like herding cats but we finally made it. Our team, "The Battle Bots" competed with 30 other teams and placed 2nd in Core Values. They placed 10th out of 30 teams with their robot and got 205 points for accomplishing their missions in 2.5 minutes. Did it happen over night? No, it took 4 years of almost daily blood, sweat and tears.

What makes the award special is the core values are truly what Pathways stands for and are listed in the photo above. Could not be prouder that we placed so high in this area! The team was made up of kids of all abilities!

Next Steps?

It is time we get a vision for what our children can accomplish. It will happen when we come together and do it ourselves. If I was still waiting for school districts, businesses, and government to help our children, I would still be waiting.  Never underestimate the power of a dream and the ability you have to achieve it; not only for yourself but others! We have a long way to go to give greater access to children of all abilities but we keep trying and moving forward one step at a time!

Enjoy Thanksgiving and don't forget to comment below the ways you are not waiting but taking even small steps to move the ball forward for all children!