Inspirational people to talk about in assembly - who?

[Adair]

Assemblies for secondary aged students.
Not the same old people.

Dh and I have thought of
William Kamkwamba - The boy who harnessed the wind
and
Janelle Monae

Thought we'd ask Mumsnet, who are yours?

how about edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/25/disabled.athletes/index.html

and I know you said not the obvious but Jamie Oliver for someone who didn't do well at school but found their way later, Daniel Radcliffe, because he's mildly dyspraxic, Basil D'Oliveira because of his impact on apartheid (and too old for most students to have heard about)

What is inspirational about Janelle Monae?

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

I sense a theme...
How about
George Washington Carver,
Booker T Washington
Tuskegee Airmen..

Isambard kingdom brunel
Nelson mandela
George muller
Sir Alan sugar
John pierpont morgan

Not Alan Sugar - too tarred with celebrity/reality TV brush.

Kyle McDonald- the man who swapped a paperclip for a house.

You could have slides of each thing swapped, build tension and make it fun.

Camila Batmanghelidjh

Martin Luther King
Barack Obama
Michelle Obama- even better
Where do you live?

Her back story. The fact that she is making it in the music industry without taking her kit off etc. Think she v good role model for the kids. Her song tightrope is about finding a 'balance' in your life...

We are in East London so (hopefully) the kids are v familiar with Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. Yes, nearly wrote Camila Batmaghelidjh.

Will check out others when ds not climbing on my head, thanks!

|Bearing in mind tjhis is inspirational to 11-16yr olds...

Compare Alan Sugar with Richard Branson. How you should look for inspirational people beyiond the celebrity status. (RB arguably more successful in business, does a lot for charity without shouting about it, is dyslexic).

Tim whatsisname from Shelterbox. Helped millions retain their dignity and family life in natural disasters with one simple idea and self motivation.

I also think they could discover who is more inspirational in the case of a musician who writes, composes and sings (with clothes on) compared to one that doesn't do any of those!

Discussion that hitting headlines does not mean inspirational. Actually, in reality, quite the opposite. Haedlines are done for effect and to sell papers and make a profit - whoever sells will make the headlines. Often less clothes more relationships = more sales.

Can they think of anyone at school who is an inspiration? Good at sport. Very kind. Very clever. A particular teacher. The Head or a deputy.

Amy Winehouse.

Dh wasn't convinced by Janelle Monae either. i am just completely in love with her!

I like the idea of finding someone who is within the school who is inspirational.

Kyle macdonald interesting but not sure about inspirational...

Alison Lapper
Helen Keller
Loius Braille

What about: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ? 1st and only elected female head of state in africa. Doing amazing things in a country with very little, standing up against endemic corruption etc. Might be a bit too heavy but not if you pitch it right.

Dame Tanni-Grey Thompson? Oscar Pistorious?

For contemporary business successes, you could look at Facebook founders, Google founders etc. Also Fraser Doherty or Jamie Wells-Murray (glasses direct millionaire)

For spine tingling moments, you can't ever beat Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech. You could open with this, discuss his dream, then look at others' dreams?

For teamwork example, you could look at Lance Armstrong story - that this chap survived cancer, then became a cyclist with good success. But then it was decided that his team (US Postal) would together make him win the TdF. So it was down to the dedication and sacrifice of a group that made the one man 'win' and find fame etc.

What about Maya Angelou?

I think Janelle is a great choice for kids.

Basil D'oliviera - wow, great one.

Oscar Pistorious, Tanni Grey - more wows.

Tuskegee Airmen - fab

Keep 'em coming!!

Must admit I'd avoid anyone in the music industry, sports, fashion or acting. They are bombarded with media telling them these are the only worlds to aspire towards. Camilla Batmaghelidjh is much more interesting.

This is the sort of person I'd look at - Khadijah Williams, a homeless girl who got into Harvard Uni. www.khadijahwilliams.com/KW/Media.html

Kez, its Tom not Tim (Henderson)
Menagarie-couldnt agree more
Not sure about some of the business people named here,certainly one or two of them are not people to look up to..
Lance Armstrong,great story lets just hope it doesnt get blown out of the water by drugs...

Yes I do agree re sports/music stereotype (just have big girl-crush on Ms Monae atm - and am chuffed she is 'out there' tbh).

Would love to share story of Tunde Jaji - he is now a successful animation artist. Would need to be done sensitively of course...

Will feedback to dh. Love the idea of 'real-life' inspiration (own school or community) with message - 'YOU can do this too'.

Does it have to be someone well known and famous?

I know a guy who is a tetraplegic after a car accident who has done some amazing things with his life. He really inspires me, and I know he gives talks. Maybe you could find someone like that through a local spinal injuries charity or simelar.