World Out-Reach Projects...
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.
PJ#2-Presented by: Delano L Johnson
Arizona State's Anthony Robles-NCAA champ
Born without a right leg, Robles won the 125-pound title that had eluded him in two previous seasons as an All-American. He finished his final season 36-0 and earned the tournament's outstanding wrestler award.
"People have been asking me if I want to try out for freestyle (the Olympic style) or anything like that," says Robles.
"But I've had a great run. Started wrestling when I was a freshman in high school. It's been a great ride.
"Wrestling helped me to mature. I got so much self-confidence from the sport. I love the sport. But from here on out my wrestling competition days are over, and I'll be focusing on my next goal, which is to be a motivational speaker. I'll be around wrestling all my life. I love it so much."
Robles took up wrestling as a ninth-grader in Mesa, Ariz. Though he went on to win two high school state titles, he struggled at the start. He said the turning point was his sophomore year.
"I took sixth in high school state, and a good friend of mine, he was the state champion that year, and I wanted to be a state champion just like him. … I wanted to be the best in the state. And once I won that it was like I want to be the best in the nation," he says.
Robles placed fourth in the NCAAs two years ago. He dropped to seventh last year. Both of those finishes made him an All-American, but he wanted the top step on the podium.
"Anthony has had to work his butt off," says Arizona State coach Shawn Charles.
"Every year, he's made some adaptations. He's made changes, and he's open-minded to work on weaknesses and make strengths. … Anthony has put in the time. He's a hard worker, a very motivated person."
Robles has the strength and size in his upper body of a wrestler in a weight class several classes higher than his 125-pound division. He worked to develop a wrestling style in which he maximized his ability to use that strength. He found different ways to get it done.
A typical scoring move in wrestling is a single-leg takedown. From a standing position, a wrestler steps into an opponent, grabs a leg and takes him down.
Robles wrestles from one knee, supporting himself with his hands and arms. He shoots his single-leg takedown from his haunches.
"Anybody's that wrestled has to understand the obstacles that he's up against," says Charles.
"The balance he has to deal with, the counterbalancing he has to have. The amount of strength he has to have to hold his positions. It's unbelievable that he's put himself in position to be that good.
"When he's in there shooting a single leg, him finishing a single leg is not the same as someone else finishing the single leg. So for him to maneuver himself time and time again, and practicing so he can actually be in that position and not get put on his back or turned over or knocked off balance, is amazing."
Now, Robles is finished wrestling.
While he calls motivational speaking the "next chapter in my life," he does plan to be around the Arizona State wrestling room to assist younger guys.
"I want to help them to say thank you and help those kids that like myself, you know, others wouldn't have given a shot," he says.
"I want to help those kids rise out of nothing and achieve their goals, especially in wrestling. So I'll definitely be around."
"People have been asking me if I want to try out for freestyle (the Olympic style) or anything like that," says Robles.
"But I've had a great run. Started wrestling when I was a freshman in high school. It's been a great ride.
"Wrestling helped me to mature. I got so much self-confidence from the sport. I love the sport. But from here on out my wrestling competition days are over, and I'll be focusing on my next goal, which is to be a motivational speaker. I'll be around wrestling all my life. I love it so much."
Robles took up wrestling as a ninth-grader in Mesa, Ariz. Though he went on to win two high school state titles, he struggled at the start. He said the turning point was his sophomore year.
"I took sixth in high school state, and a good friend of mine, he was the state champion that year, and I wanted to be a state champion just like him. … I wanted to be the best in the state. And once I won that it was like I want to be the best in the nation," he says.
Robles placed fourth in the NCAAs two years ago. He dropped to seventh last year. Both of those finishes made him an All-American, but he wanted the top step on the podium.
"Anthony has had to work his butt off," says Arizona State coach Shawn Charles.
"Every year, he's made some adaptations. He's made changes, and he's open-minded to work on weaknesses and make strengths. … Anthony has put in the time. He's a hard worker, a very motivated person."
Robles has the strength and size in his upper body of a wrestler in a weight class several classes higher than his 125-pound division. He worked to develop a wrestling style in which he maximized his ability to use that strength. He found different ways to get it done.
A typical scoring move in wrestling is a single-leg takedown. From a standing position, a wrestler steps into an opponent, grabs a leg and takes him down.
Robles wrestles from one knee, supporting himself with his hands and arms. He shoots his single-leg takedown from his haunches.
"Anybody's that wrestled has to understand the obstacles that he's up against," says Charles.
"The balance he has to deal with, the counterbalancing he has to have. The amount of strength he has to have to hold his positions. It's unbelievable that he's put himself in position to be that good.
"When he's in there shooting a single leg, him finishing a single leg is not the same as someone else finishing the single leg. So for him to maneuver himself time and time again, and practicing so he can actually be in that position and not get put on his back or turned over or knocked off balance, is amazing."
Now, Robles is finished wrestling.
While he calls motivational speaking the "next chapter in my life," he does plan to be around the Arizona State wrestling room to assist younger guys.
"I want to help them to say thank you and help those kids that like myself, you know, others wouldn't have given a shot," he says.
"I want to help those kids rise out of nothing and achieve their goals, especially in wrestling. So I'll definitely be around."
PJ#1-Presented by: Lisa D McCraw.............
Visionary League Of Artists ----"what an amazing principal, It's time to do something amazing in return, we will keep you updated"
Students from Booker T. Washington, winner of the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. President Obama will visit the school in Memphis, Tennessee as commencement speaker
Principal Alisha Kiner,
ONLY ON THE BLOG: Answering today’s six OFF-SET questions is Alisha Kiner, principal of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee. On Tuesday, the White House announced Booker T. Washington was the winner of the 2011 Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.
Kiner was assistant principal at BTW from '02-'05 and became the principal in October 2005. She taught English for 10 years before moving into administration.
According to the White House, Booker T. Washington High School’s graduation rate went from 55% in 2007 to 81.6% in 2010. The school has taken steps such as establishing separate freshmen academies for boys and girls to help students adjust to the school culture and creating an atmosphere where teachers take personal interest in seeing students take pride in their schoolwork. Students can now take AP classes, learn about engineering through robotics competitions, and earn college credits.
Kiner was assistant principal at BTW from '02-'05 and became the principal in October 2005. She taught English for 10 years before moving into administration.
According to the White House, Booker T. Washington High School’s graduation rate went from 55% in 2007 to 81.6% in 2010. The school has taken steps such as establishing separate freshmen academies for boys and girls to help students adjust to the school culture and creating an atmosphere where teachers take personal interest in seeing students take pride in their schoolwork. Students can now take AP classes, learn about engineering through robotics competitions, and earn college credits.