Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Winter 2015-2016 | Page 11

Mr. Rick Holliman, executive director of
Our Daily Bread, greets a few members of
Ryan High School’s BLAST program as they
prepare for a day of volunteering at the
food pantry.

His exception was well
rewarded as the BLAST students’
nervousness was soon overtaken
by dedication to the work at
hand. Unloading a truck with
the day’s donation from Target,
sorting perishable from nonperishable items and checking
expiration dates on cans and
baked goods was done quickly
and effectively.
When a client asked who the
new faces were, Holliman
replied, “These are honors
students from Ryan High School –
crème of the crop.”
Spending the day serving others
is just one of many activities
available to students in BLAST,

What students are saYIng
strengths. Mine are activator,
“I need help with my
positivity, woo and developer.
communication styles because
But, this class is also helping
I don’t talk. For example,
me with my future because I
whenever I need help, I don’t
want to be a teacher.”
really ask a teacher because
I’m shy in front of other
“I think BLAST is a great class.
students. I need help with
We’re learning together and
presentations too. Whenever
helping each other any way
I present something I get
we
can. I think learning about
nervous and start shaking. My
our strengths and learning to
face gets red.”
communicate together not only
helped me, but it helped all
“What is most important in
of
us understand each other.
this room are our strengths,
Doing
vocabulary also helps us
learning styles, communication
understand the story we read
styles and relationships.”
better and helps us improve our
language. Also, I think going
“I really love this class and
to
the homeless shelter helped
I’m glad that I was picked to
because
we got to go with
be in the class because it has
changed me and made me come classmates and we got to share
an experience together.”
out of my shell. It has given
me the chance to meet some
“In all honesty, I thought this
amazing people and teachers
class was going to be a bit
that love and care for us. And,
boring.
My first day in BLAST
we have built a family in here
wasn’t
how
I expected it to be
and we can trust one another
and
I
didn’t
really talk to a lot
and work together.”
of people. Now, I’m so glad I
told Mrs. Russell I wanted to
“We have talked about healthy
be in this class. I’ve learned
relationships and not only with
how to be more confident in
your boyfriend or girlfriend, but
front of strangers. I’ve learned
with your parents and friends
that with the strengths I have,
and family. And, we have
I can make a big (good)
also gone and looked up our
difference in this world.”
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