"Wake Up Everybody!"

This weekend I had the opportunity to go see the long awaited documentary, Waiting for Superman, and WOW! It was mind-blowing, mind- boggling, disheartening, depressing, anger-causing, but also passion re-igniting, possibility-believing and determination-increasing. Well, really to be honest, I was left speechless and that is the best combination of words I could get to describe the amount of issues, horrors and possibilities seen in the film.

The above music was included which you might recognize from Akeelah and the Bee. Ultimately, I found that everyday, regardless of the excuses, we must all believe in the cases of Akeelah, Anthony in the movie, and the possibility that lies in each student in our schools. It seemed that the consensus was great teachers, but also community involvement, belief and high expectations must be carried out to all students in all schools. Even further, though, it was not only the failing schools in the urban and rural areas but even in suburban areas, the U.S.'s inability to compete with other countries was made clear. And then in instances of Cannada's Harlem Success Academy, many students outperformed everyone even though they are the students most often dismissed by low expectations.

I think the words of Nelson Mandela in Invictus go right along with what the film insists from all of us, "We all must exceed the expectations we have for ourselves for the sake of our country."

Check out waitingforsuperman.com for ways to take action, starting with Texting POSSIBLE to 77177!!!