Small gesture, big change

This post is long overdue, but since we have just celebrated Thanksgiving, I wanted to share this story because it really is so important. Even if you do not think you can make an impact, a small gesture can change someone's world.

In the past four and a half months, I have gone through a few setbacks: a head injury/trauma, family drama, the death of my grandmother, followed by the end of my relationship six days after the funeral, a suicidal friend and another friend going through a challenging time. The week of Nov. 10 was a rough one. I worked long hours, made a big mistake and went through hell while trying to secure my replacement phone through LifeProof, to no avail. Suffice it to say, when I left work on Friday, I was not in a good mood. The stress of the past months, and especially the past eight weeks, has been pretty brutal.

Around 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, I remembered that I had signed up to ring bells for the Salvation Army at Pick ‘n Save in Stoughton. Although I was really exhausted from the past week, there was no chance of me missing my 6-8 p.m. shift. I packed up at the office around 5:30 and made the trek to Stoughton.

Ringing bells was probably the best thing I did. Even though it was the first day of the Dane County Red Kettle Campaign, people were so generous. About two of every three people put something in my kettle. It might have been a few pennies, or a few bills, but most people put something in. And with every donation, I felt myself getting happier. The sadness inside me lightened and a smile spread across my face. It was not a fake smile, the one you put on to show the world, but a real one. The kind of smile that you only get by helping others and a cause much greater than your own.

Me with my Good Samaritan, Mitchell.

Twenty minutes before my two-hour shift ended, my day changed. One of the young cashiers, Mitchell, came out and gave me an individual bottle of milk and a pack of double-stuff Oreos. He thanked me for ringing the bells and went back to work. It seems like such a small gesture, the items probably cost about $3, but it totally changed my day. Tears came to my eyes as I was touched my the simple, selfless gift. After my shift ended, I turned the bells and kettle in and proceeded to tell the store manager about the kind gesture one of his employees made. I also took the time to thank the young man, who is a sophomore at Stoughton High School.

He said growing up, the start of the bell ringing marked the beginning of Christmas, and he just wanted to thank me for ringing. I told him how much his simple gesture meant to me. What really touched me is the simple, yet thoughtful gesture from someone so young. It warms my heart to realize the next generation has kind and thoughtful people. You don’t have to make a big gesture to change someone’s life. Indeed, it is the small things that mean the most. I am not sure if Mitchell realizes the power of his actions, but his gift had the power to change my day and my outlook.

As my shift came to an end, another young store employee tucked a couple bills into my kettle. Although I have been ringing bells for four years now, the kindness, support and generosity that I witnessed that day blew me away. The people of Stoughton - young and old - have huge hearts with a large capacity for love. I cannot wait to return there. Although I walked into the store feeling stressed and overwhelmed, I walked out with a smile and a spring in my step. It is true what they say: when you help others, you help yourself.

Performing in New York City

Talk about amazing. Yes, Monday, Nov. 10 got off to an early start. I chose to forsake the hotel breakfast at 5 a.m. and get an extra hour of sleep. The bus indeed left at 6 a.m. as the Edgerton High School band and choir students had to be in Times Square at 7 a.m. Rehearsal for the Band of Pride Tribute began at 7:30 a.m. sharp, with the performance beginning at 9 a.m. It was not what I was expecting.
 
All of the high school students, and I do mean ALL - from each of the 10 bands across the country - wore a white Band of Pride Tribute sweatshirt. Was that confusing? Yes, indeede do. Good thing I was traveling with the band and choir then or I might have gotten lost.
 
Imagine, students from 10 bands across the country all converging on Times Square to simultaneously perform patriotic tunes honoring our nation’s veterans. Approximately 100 of those students are Edgerton High School Choir students. The only choir in the nation selected to perform, the bands ceased as their voices lifted and they sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
 

In addition to honoring the nation's veterans, the 2014 Band of Pride Tribute marked the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Conflict, a fact which hit close to home for some students.
 
“I think that this trip was absolutely wonderful, especially because of the fact that it was honoring the Vietnam War-which is where my grandpa fought and died,” Grace Reinhart said.
 
“Honoring the veterans was amazing because my grandfather died on duty,” Danielle Erb said. “This was so amazing and something that I will never forget.”
 
“Coming from a military family myself, it really hit close to home. This was an extraordinary trip to be on, and I am glad to be a part of it,” Kaleb Dix added.
 
The musical honor continued on Veteran's Day, when Edgerton students assembled to march down New York City's 5th Avenue. Students from across the country were not the only ones who showed up to honor the nation's veterans. The parade boasted 20,000 participants from veteran and service organizations, military groups, musicians, even Miss New York Jillian Tapper, who wowed the crowd with her baton twirling skills.
 

The Band of Pride Parade was more than a form of national entertainment. While the parade participants were assembling, local veterans were being honored in nearby Madison Square Park.
 
“Today we are here to pay tribute to America's veterans, the brave men and women who served in the military in war time and times of peace. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of the 'Star-Spangled Banner.' 'Land of the free, home of the brave' is the ideology this great country was founded on,” said Wounded Warrior Project CEO Steven Nardizzi. “But I like to say that phrase a little differently. We are the land of the free because of the brave. Because of all of you here today. That is why today and every day we need to salute the service men and women who protect and preserve our way of life."
 

Wounded Warrior Project is an organization that supports wounded veterans in many ways. The Combat Stress Recovery Program addresses the mental health and cognitive needs of warriors returning from war. Soldier Ride is a four-day cycling opportunity for wounded service members and veterans to use cycling and the bonds of service to overcome physical, mental or emotional wounds. Wounded Warrior Project also offers educational programs, information technology training and employment assistance service to encourage economic empowerment for warriors.
 
“It is an awesome and humbling responsibility, but one we readily accept because this great country and the freedoms we enjoy are only possibly through the service and the courage and the sacrifice of our veterans,” Nardizzi concluded. “We live in the land of the free because of the brave. As American citizens, we are all responsible for helping our veterans - no matter what their injury - successfully reintegrate into their community. Today and everyday, let's let our veterans know that we remember and appreciate them because the greatest casualty is being forgotten.”
 

As the 95th annual Band of Pride Parade began, Edgerton High School student waited patiently to make their entrance behind the U.S. Army Band. First the Edgerton Color Guard, twirling the silver and black banners, followed by the band. Although they did not sing in the parade, members of the Edgerton High School Choir marched behind the band. Sixteen students were offered banners to march with, while other choir students teamed up to carry a large American flag down the street.
 
“One of my favorite moments was when we began the parade, we turned the corner onto 5th Avenue and saw the streets lined with thousands of people as far as the eye could see,” Skifton said. “People were yelling to us things like 'Welcome to New York,' 'Thank you for coming,' 'Go Packers!' and 'Go Badgers!' I also loved the looks on their faces everywhere we went.”
 
The importance, honor and pride of having the opportunity to honor the nation's veterans was best summed up by Edgerton High School student Alex Schmidt.
 
“New York City was one of the best experiences of my life. Representing our State of Wisconsin (and) honoring the veterans who protect our country was amazing, and nothing could ever beat that,”

Touring New York City

OK, so I am just a little behind on blogging about Edgerton High School’s New York City trip. But with everything that went on, I have been a little overwhelmed. The second day of the trip, Sunday, Nov. 9, included a bus tour around New York City and stops at Central Park, Conservatory Gardens and a visit to the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon.
 

Selfie with a street performer at the Strawberry Fields Memorial

There was a really neat moment at the Strawberry Fields memorial when the Edgerton students sang along with a street performer, then decided to take an epic selfie with the man.
 
Central Park was absolutely beautiful, although an hour is not enough time to really do it justice. As a photographer, my eye was drawn to the natural beauty of the spot. It is hard to imagine a serene, beautiful and wide open area like Central Park in the middle of a city which boasts a population of more than eight million people. And yet, we had a leisurely stroll and a beautiful day.
 
Conservatory Gardens was another breathtaking spot. We had but 15 minutes to check out the three separate gardens, which included fountains, trees...and tons of flowers. If I had more time, or if I lived in New York City, I could totally see myself going there on the weekends, sitting on a bench and reading. I did my best to capture the scenery, but it is just not possible to totally capture the beauty.

Allison Miller, Nikkia Johnson and Emma Tinoco at Conservatory Gardens.

After lunch at Shake Shack in Grand Central Station, it was off to see the Broadway production of “On the Town.” We were not disappointed. The singing and dancing was exquisite. I could tell immediately that the female lead had a strong dancing background. As it turns out, it was her Broadway debut, but she had indeed danced with the New York City Ballet. I must admit, I had no idea that those Navy guys were such good dancers. (;
 

Rockin' at Hard Rock Cafe

Dinner was at Hard Rock Cafe. The students ordered in advance, and rather than wait around and see if I could get a meal, I took the opportunity to take some night photos around New York City. I stayed within a few blocks of the restaurant, but I could not miss how alive the city became at night. And upon returning to the restaurant, I of course had to get my own picture in the iconic establishment. My inner rocker insisted.
 
The night ended “early,” as we returned to the hotel at about 8 p.m. That was mainly because Monday started bright and early, with our bus leaving the hotel at 6 a.m. That is when the real work will begin, with the students performing in the Band of Pride Tribute in Times Square.
 
Stay tuned....

Touchdown in New York City!

Students re-enact Titanic on the ferry

It is about 11 p.m. over on the east coast, and I have to be up at 5 a.m., so this is going to be brief. On Friday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m., Edgerton High School Band and Choir students departed for New York City. Last summer, Edgerton High School Band and Choir directors Valerie Gaffney and Kristin Skifton announced that their students had been selected to participate in the 95th annual Band of Pride Tribute and Veteran’s Day Parade.
 
The Edgerton community has rallied around the group, and the support was unbelievable. The $16,000 needed to purchase new choir uniforms was raised in a matter of weeks. And within the last year, donations totaling more than $80,000 for the trip have come flooding in. The Edgerton School Board approved more than $50,000 alone in the past two months. So when the students were boarding the bus to leave, it was no surprise that the community turned out to send them off. Students at the elementary school created handmade signs, and parents lined the streets to wave as the buses departed. Edgerton VFW members performed a gun salute before the buses left. The Depot Cafe wrote a message in chalk on their outside board, wishing the band and choir luck.
 

Me in front of Lady Liberty

Arriving in New York was a rather long affair, almost 19 hours (not including going forward one time zone). There was no rest for the weary, however, as students and chaperones needed to leave quickly to board the ferry for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
 
Our Lady of Liberty is more than 300 feet tall. If you take the ferry past, she looks pretty tall, but for the first time, I docked and was able to walk around. And in person, she is a very imposing and proud woman. Taking pictures of the students with our Lady in the background was fairly challening, partly because there were so many people and partly because she was almost too large to get in the same frame. We had a half hour before we had to leave, so there was no time to walk inside the statue. I’ll save that for next time. We were supposed to make a stop at Ellis Island, but time was of the essence (and we missed an earlier ferry) so we had to skip it. I’ll have to save that for next time.
 
From there, it was time to catch a subway to Little Italy/Chinatown. We enjoyed a delicious pasta dish and dessert before making our way to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
 
I was there in April 2013 and saw the memorial pools, but the museum was a different experience. As I wandered through, it all came flooding back, and tears filled my eyes, although I kept them from overflowing. The video of the planes flying into the towers was horrifically mesmerizing, but what really got to me was a picture of three medical professionals. They had rushed to the scene and were prepared to help with the mass injuries that were expected....only they never came. Stretchers outside a nearby clinic remained vacant. There was no need for them. There were very few wounded from the collapse of the Twin Towers, and many dead.
 

The 9/11 Reflective Memorial pool at dusk

It was a history lesson for many of the students. As freshman to seniors, they would have been 2-5 years old when the terrorist attacks occured, much to young to really know what was going on. Touring the 9/11 Memorial Museum helped them understand. The videos, audio clips and artifacts can make it real for anyone. There were firefighters in the building helping evacuate people when the towers collapsed. One of the displays was a fire truck, half-crushed from the collapse.
 
By the time the group, including myself, checked in at the Hilton Hotel in New Jersey, it was around 9 p.m. I cannot speak for the students, but I was feeling pretty exhausted. Being on a bus for 20 hours and then touring for 12 hours? Sunday was going to be another busy day.

The half-crushed fire engine ladder truck

Beating My Bullies (Part 2): The Road to Recovery

Yesterday I posted the first part of a story that ran this week in the Edgerton Reporter about the abuse and bullying I went through as a child, and how it affected me as a teen and adult. This is the second part of that article, my message to others, especially today's youth. Please read it and share with someone you love: a friend, sibling, your children, grandchildren. I became adept at hiding my pain, and by sharing, you may be helping more than you know.

A roller-coaster ride
During the past 10 years, my life has taken ups and downs. The depression I first swallowed in middle school as a result of bullying came back in waves. I still struggle with self-image as a result of the bullying I went through. It is hard for me to form relationships, hard for me to trust men. I have been lied to, manipulated and abused.

Myself at 19, as a freshman at UW-Whitewater

Bullying is a poison that can seep into the soul, leaving behind mistrust, self-doubt and self-loathing.

Three years ago, I re-discovered a gift given to me by a Secret Santa when I was in college. It was a refrigerator magnet with a quote by Souza:

“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin—real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”

The message hit hard. I realized that if I wanted to be happy, I had to do things that made me happy. I had to stop waiting for happiness to arrive and appreciate the blessings I was given and greet each day with a smile. If I let what other people think of me define me, I will never be happy.

As an adult, I have turned my back on the traditional conventions of society. I have gone out in public wearing margarita sunglasses, donned a purple 'fro and tutu for a 5K race, of which my friend and I were the only ones in costume, and experienced the joy that a game of laser tag can bring.

Dash for Diabetes in May with my friend Nicole

The effects of being harassed and abused in my youth still linger. I still struggle with self-confidence, still want to be good enough for someone to love. I will most likely battle those insecurities for the rest of my life. But I no longer allow other people’s judgements and perceptions to define me.

My story is one that I have shared with just a few, until now. We are living in an age where bullying can spread outside the classroom and onto Facebook and other social media platforms. We are living in an age where secrets can destroy lives, and where teens have taken their own lives as a result of bullying.

As a reporter, I get to share stories of triumph, tragedy, love and loss. I also know that I am not alone. My message is for today’s youth, who are not only growing up and learning who they are, but who are doing it during the age of social media.
 
A message of hope and healing
As you grow up, there will be people who will try and tear you down, who will tell you that you are not good enough. A part of you will believe them, and happiness will seem a far goal. You may feel like you are alone during this struggle, but you are not. There are people in your lives, parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, neighbors, who love you and will be there to help you, if you have the courage to reach out and ask for help. I made the mistake of not going to my parents or other adults for help. I struggled in silence. I hope others can learn from my mistakes.

There is beauty and blessings in the world around you, and you can find peace in your gifts. You might be the next Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Brett Favre or Selena Gomez. Whether you can wax a verse like Shakespeare or just enjoy the simple, yet majestic beauty of a colorful sunset, find happiness in the world around you. Embrace your gifts and enjoy the beauty you contribute to the world.

The wise words of Souza struck a chord and changed my life

Bullies gain power when you give up. Do not grow up with your eyes cast downward. Just like you miss 100 percent of the shots you do not take, you may miss a great opportunity when you avert your eyes from the world around you. A genuine smile can be your greatest defense. I have had challenges thrown my way, but today I know that even in my darkest moments, love and hope are always possible. Your life is what you make it, and the only power someone has over you is the power you allow them to have.

Happiness begins with you. Focusing on the positive can be challenging, especially when the negatives seem to loom over you. But if you embrace life’s treats, your own gifts and love the life you have been blessed with, the sorrows will seem less ominous and no bully can keep you pinned down.

You will find that life is a wonderful and precious gift. You are not wasting space, and the world will not be better off without you. You have the power to impact the world and your community in wondrous ways. You do matter, you have worth and you are loved. You are perfect just the way you are, and your life brings happiness to other people.

You are not alone. 

The issue of bullying is very near my heart. If anyone has questions or would like to speak with me, I can be reached by email at wittrockra08@gmail.com.

-Thank you for listening,

Rachel Anne Wittrock

Beating My Bullies (Part 1): Living in Fear and Darkness

I made a very personal decision recently and decided to publicly speak about my personal experiences with bullying, anorexia and depression. The following is the first part of the story that I published in this week's edition of the Edgerton Reporter. I will be posting the second half tomorrow. I hope you help me by spreading my message. As difficult as it was to put everything down in print, I feel it is my duty. If just one person is helped, it will be worth it.

October is the month of spooks and ghouls, breast cancer awareness and visits to the pumpkin patch. It is also National Bullying Awareness Month. Bullying is something I am all too familiar with. As a child, I lived in fear of my classmates. Being the lone Catholic in a Lutheran school is not a fun position to be in.

Darkness and despair
I was fed mouse, under the guise of whipped cream, during a birthday sleepover for one of my female classmates. My hands and feet were bound during my sleep, and my classmates laughed when I woke up and was less graceful than usual.

If it was not the girls teasing me and making jokes behind my back, the boys were there to physically assault me. I was punched and kicked on an almost daily basis, never hard enough to bruise, but it hurt all the same.

My senior picture, one month before school started

One day, after being punched and kicked repeatedly by one classmate, I returned to my classroom in tears. When the teacher asked what was wrong, I told her what transpired. Her response? She could not believe me because she knew there was friction between the male student and I, but she could not believe him when he said he did not physically hurt me because he was always getting into trouble.

My personal possessions were destroyed or hidden. I had to return home one cold winter day without a coat after someone stole it from my cubby. My parents were forced to purchase a second winter jacket for me, and that one also disappeared. Both were eventually “found” by a classmate, but no one knew how they were “misplaced.”

I was 13 the first time I contemplated ending my life. With no friends and no teachers taking my side, I lived in fear when I went to school. I had nightmares about being beaten to a bloody pulp and left for dead. I was ridiculed on an almost daily basis and told that I was retarded, fat, ugly and no one would ever love me. After three years of fighting, I began to believe the mantra. I had no self-confidence and began to believe that the world would be better off without me. I was just wasting space.

My Catholic upbringing and the belief that I would burn in hell for the rest of my life is what saved me and kept me from ending my life. Fear can be a strong motivator. But happiness eluded me.

Welcome to the jungle
I found a piece of happiness in the bigger pond of high school. I was still teased, but thankfully not beaten. I made friends and found inclusion in my high school’s band program. And yet, at the back of my mind, the bullies were still winning. If a relationship did not work out, I thought it was because I was not good enough, not smart enough, not thin enough, not pretty enough.

My senior year of high school, the depression hit hard. My boyfriend was distant, and I was determined to earn his love. How? By being a better athlete, musician and student. I improved every single one of my cross country meet times and threw myself into my music. I earned three bids to State Solo and Ensemble, and three more state first place medals.

Come track and field, I left it all on the track, PRing by 20 seconds in the mile run during my first meet of the season. But it came at a cost. I became anorexic at the start of the school year. I would eat lunch with my friends, and clean off my tray. But 50 percent of the time, that was the only meal I ate all day.

My depression led to anorexia, and I dropped 30 lbs. in 7 weeks

I weighed 170 pounds at the start of the school year. By Thanksgiving, I had dropped to 140 pounds, and everyone told me how good I looked. On the outside, my life seemed perfect. But inside the bubble, it was dissolving into madness.

Consuming maybe 800 calories a day and being a three-sport athlete do not mix well. I came close to blacking out when sitting in class, and I was sick for most of the year. I would retain a common cold for three weeks, be “healthy” for a week, and then catch another bug. By denying my body of necessary nutrients, I was impairing my body’s ability to fight off infection and illness.

What saved me, of all things, was the dissolution of my relationship. After everything I tried and went through, my efforts were not good enough. That is when I took a good look at what I was doing to myself, and realized how toxic the relationship was.

Although my eyes were opened to the form of self-abuse my depression had taken, my dark cloud was still hovering. My road to recovery was just beginning, and it would be years before I would once again bask in the sunlight.

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces

Signs...some people look for signs at every turn, while others believe that fate will have its way, no matter how observant you are. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that God sends you signals when you need them most. Yesterday, I received a much needed signal.

Those who know me best know that the past few weeks have been pretty rough. The stress of losing my grandmother and being betrayed by someone close to me have taken their toll on me. Emotionally, I am completely drained, and my patience is shot. It is hard to get up in the morning to go to work, all I want to do is just stay in bed and not do anything.

I look forward to the weekend to escape from the rush and just relax. Yesterday, however, there was no time to relax. My co-worker was at home with his family to celebrate his son’s first birthday, which left me as last reporter standing. And with Olson’s Mud Run, the Edgerton Quilt Show and The Piano Men concert all taking place, my weekend was going to be quite busy.

I stopped by the Edgerton Quilt Show at 10 a.m., and of course forgot my camera. So I spent a couple hours looking and making notes of what I wanted to get pictures of when I returned. Around noon I headed home for lunch. After that, I went to Olson’s Mud Run and took photos for about an hour before returning to the quilt show to take pictures.

By that time, I was pretty exhausted and wanted a nap. However, I had to head back to Olson’s Mud Run to take more pictures, then return home and get ready to attend The Piano Men concert. All this running around was draining.

As I was driving back to Olson’s Mud Run, I was stopped in my tracks. Right before me was a vision in orange and red, a majestic tree with leaves of flame. What really struck me was even though the tree reached tall and proud into the sky, very few of its leaves had fallen. Unlike some of the trees next to it, there were no large bare patches.

The tree that stopped me in my tracks

Even though time was of the essence and I still had a lot of work to do, I knew I had to stop and take a picture of this tree. I pulled onto the side of the road and crossed the street to get a picture of the fiery foliage.

Same tree, different view

As I walked around the tree, I noticed something. I was immediately drawn to the red and orange, but the view from the opposite side was a vibrant yellow.

Upon closer inspection, I spotted green and yellow leaves, even Wisconsin trees love the Green Bay Packers!

Even nature loves to cheer "Go, Pack, Go!"

Before I knew it, I had spent 20 minutes photographing this one tree. I was calm and relaxed and my stress levels had decreased. This tree was more than just a tree, it was a sign.

It was a sign that in my hectic life, I needed to slow down. Whether it is stopping and smelling the roses or stopping and enjoying the fall colors, there is always time to take a breather.

Beautiful fall foliage

By taking the time to explore the tree’s many angles, I discovered there was more to the tree than first glance. Had I not stopped to take a picture, all I would have seen was that first passing glance. Beautiful yes, but it was just a part of the story. There is more to life than initial meetings and first glances.

Stop and smell the roses...err appreciate nature's beauty

It is not often that I see something that stops me in my tracks, that makes me stop everything I am doing. That is my fault. I spend so much time rushing from one thing to another, I do not spend time just looking. That tree was more than a sign, it was two-part lesson.

Fiery beauty close to the sky

Lesson 1: Slow down. Life can get hectic, but do not be so busy that you let the simple joys and beauty pass you by.

Lesson 2: Dig deeper. Explore things from all angles. What may appear beautiful or unique from one side may look different when viewed from another angle. Viewing something from another angle does not make it less beautiful, you just appreciate and value it even more for its unique traits and characteristics.