Limitless

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  Wai'anae, Hawai'i
  According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii is among the highest teen suicide attempt rates in the nation at 12%, twice the national average. Reasons include parents struggling to make ends meet, a high homelessness rate, and substance abuse. This is especially high in Waianae, a rural city on the island of Oahu, where many teenagers live with heavy weights on their shoulders, whether it’s poverty or your typical adolescent’s troubles.
  
  Motivational speaker Nick Vujicic was born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a disorder where one is born without all four limbs. Waianae High School was his next destination. He travels around the world, delivering motivational speeches about life without limbs, hope, and finding value in life.
  
  “I just want everyone to know that there’s beautiful things that can come from their work of pieces, just give their broken pieces a chance,” he said.
  
  On March 28, 2014, two assemblies were held at Waianae High School for Nick to convey his message. He promoted an anti-bullying campaign and spoke out against it, letting students know that regardless of what others say, they have value in their lives. Many students were moved by his words, hearts being captured and tears being shed. By the end of the assembly, majority of the crowd stood up and vowed to stop bullying.
  
  The speech did not just make the students want to change their actions, but also their perspective on life. “He made me look at all the bad I’ve done and made me wanna change it,” said sophomore Kaike Kaniaupio.
  
  Sometimes, all it takes is a few good words, and Nick delivered just that. “Another girl couldn’t say a word, but she just cried on my shoulder for about a good 10-15 seconds,” he said.
  
  “That’s the greatest thing, to see people being changed and transformed by the message.”
  
  Nick’s speeches may not necessarily lower the teen suicide attempt rate, but it’s a start. Students at Waianae High School were implanted with a new sense of faith in themselves. “I think that no matter what school we go to, wherever it is in the world, everyone’s looking for hope, everyone’s going through something.”

"There’s beautiful things that can come from their work of pieces, just give their broken pieces a chance,"

Nick Vujicic, Motivational Speaker

looking back

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I realized how important it is for everyone to have someone believe in them.


Cayla Paulo, Reporter

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From this experience I learned about Nick Vujicic, and got to hear his wise words about bullying.


Jazmine Calixtro, Photographer 

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