Discussing our philosophies help us all strengthen the way we look at the world. Not only that it helps us better ourselves.We all have a unique story that help keep us motivated and
persevere to get through the things we go through. Hearing people stories is an
even better way to keep us going and allow us to see different viewpoints in
different situations. Storycorps is where people from all around share their
stories of what they experienced on their journey. Storycorps mission is to “preserve and share humanity’s stories in
order to build connections between people and create a more just and
compassionate world.” One of the many stories that caught my eye on StoryCorps is Dr. William Weaver story. In the first interview (Aired 2007) of Dr. Weaver's story, he discusses to his daughter, Kim Weaver, about how he tries his best to be half the man his father was. Towards the middle of the interview, Dr. Weaver tells a story about a time he struggled to complete his homework one night. His father, Ted Weaver, ask to let him look at it and help him, but Dr. Weaver noted they didn't have algebra back in his father time. So, he gave up on the homework and went to sleep. Early the next morning his father woke him up and taught him how to do the algebra he was struggling with. While Dr. Weaver gave up and went to bed, his father read the algebra book and taught his self the problems his son needed help on. No matter the circumstances of the past, it's never about who is the smartest, but who is willing to work the hardest in any given situation. 
A later interview from Dr. Weaver he talked about another man who had a huge impact on his life, his seventh grade science teacher Mr. Edward O. Hill. Without Mr. Hill, Dr. Weaver wouldn't have made his way to college to continue his education. Dr. Weaver integrated an all white school his sophomore year of high school and was given a very hard time. He made all f's and received no additional help from anyone at his high school and sought to give up. Until one day, Mr. Hill came to his home and offered him to come back to his previous school for tutoring. He then overcame all of his terrible grades. Dr. Weaver said, "Learning became an almost spiteful activity to prove teachers at the high school wrong." With that mindset, Dr. Weaver received a full ride scholarship to Howard university. However, he never learned how he received the scholarship until many years later. At the time, Dr. Weaver didn't apply for anything. His tutors at his previous black school whom he would meet with including Mr. Hill applied for him. He didn't realize how much he was being helped. Therefore, with success comes a time when you'll have to fail, it's apart of the process. When you do fail, learning from your mistakes is the most important part of the process. When hard times come think of the outcome.
Quiz:
Who was the man to change Dr. Weaver's life?
What is Dr. Weaver's father name?
How much money did Dr. Weaver have to pay for college?
Discussion questions:
When was a time you were given a hard time and how did yo overcome it?
How do you think times would be now if everyone had an equal opportunity?
Do you think we should listen more to people stories to help us through our personal journey?
Post Commented on:
Brandon Lewis
Final Report
Section 13
So many of the StoryCorps stories are truly inspiring. It's easy to get down on humanity if you follow the headlines and overlook the simpler stories of human perseverance and decency... but those simpler stories are there. Listening, really listening, is increasingly rare in our day. StoryCorps can be a model for fixing much of what's broken in public discourse as well as our personal relationships. I also recommend recording and submitting your own stories, with respected friends and family members. My wife did that with her late mother, it's such a wonderful legacy not only for her but for generations to come.
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