IMPACT!

Last week, Cartersville High School held it's second annual leadership academy called IMPACT! The goal of IMPACT is to teach students at the high school how they can be leaders at school, in their home, and in our community. We had 30 students participate and they are from all walks of life. Over the 3-day training the students performed team building exercises, heard speakers from our community share their thoughts on leadership, and their favorite part was hearing the stories of their own peers about how they have overcome obstacles in their own life. We laughed, we cried, but most importantly lives were impacted!

The theme this year was "Overcoming Obstacles Through Leadership" and we used a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." These students took this quote and ran with it! I will share one quick story...

Lauren and I were over at a friend's house eating dinner on Friday night when I received a text from one of the students who participated in IMPACT. This student said, "Hey Coach, my friend and I just did a prayer walk on Main Street. We went in every open store and asked if they had prayer requests and then prayed with them." I then asked what made him decide to do a prayer walk in the middle of town and his reply was, "I'm just trying to impact the lives of others."

WOW! One student did not wait till school started to make an impact. He knew he had to start now! That is an upcoming sophomore wanting to go where there is no path and leave a trail. I am looking forward to this upcoming year and seeing how many of the 30 will leave a trail. To God be the glory!