Talents for a cause
“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it,” words to live by, spoken from the heart of Brryan Jackson founder of the non-profit organization Hope is Vital, and the reasoning for the school’s talent show. His organization uses donations, like the money earned from the talent show, to promote education on HIV/AIDS.
The night went on with many of Bradford’s talented individuals showcasing what they enjoy doing as well as happen to be good at. There was a range of different talents including an abundance of belting voices, guitar strumming, dancing, an air band, and even a soulful poem reading. All acts were judged by none other than our own Mr. Roders, Ms. Phillips, Ms. Carillo-Mathies, and Mr. Shawnelle Gross.
As the curtain fell and the talent came to an end, everyone waited to see who would walk away from the night with the prize and title of winner of the Bradford’s first talent show, they all got to hear Brryan’s personal story. Laughter filled the auditorium in reaction to the funky personality he possesses as he was helping them better understand HIV/AIDS and the ridiculous things people believe about the disease.
But all that laughter and excitement came to a gradual stop and a calm seriousness swept over the crowd as he began to tell all about how he came to be where he is in his life today and how he used his disease and twisted it into becoming his own bundle of success. He deliberated on how his father is said to have gone into his hospital room and knowingly inject “tainted blood” into Brryan when he was at the fragile age of 11 months. Even though he had a rough life as a child caused by his disease and the misinformed people around him, he took all his problems and developed them into a reason for living.
Using their valued judging capabilities, the judges dubbed beat boxing, Josh Lawless and drummer, Anthony Tomczak to be the winners of the talent show. After receiving their prize of one hundred dollars, they decided to give that money back towards the cause, truly showing the compassion of our own Bradford students.
by Kelsey Mentek