A Life-Changing Experience
Once again, I had the honor of chaperoning 108 bright and deserving local students to the 28th Crime Prevention Conference in Orlando this past week.
More than 1,000 law enforcement officials and program specialists shared ideas and experiences with the hundreds of African-American youth in attendance.
The sponsored is sponsored by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office and the local students’ trip was made possible thanks to a Law Enforcement Trust Fund grant from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Urban League of Palm Beach County and retired Sheriff’s Lieutenant Beverly Morrison.
The highlight, in my many years of attending, was always listening to the speakers at the youth luncheons, reading the students’ review and seeing a dear friend who year after year, does a spectacular job singing the national anthem.
I was so moved by some of these students’ impression on the conference that I will yield and let them tell you in their own words.
C. Ron
I attended the 28th Crime Prevention Conference in Orlando recently where we went to many sessions and listened to some great speakers. I sat in on a session with Dr. B, (Brenda Caldwell). She mentioned to us how people will look down on you and how it affects your life. She said, that saying, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you,” “does hurt.” Dr. B said, “Words hurt you by crushing your spirit. So, that saying is not true.” Then, I started to think about somebody who is very close to me, and how her words and actions have affected my life in a negative way. Dr. B taught me to accept some things people say, but explained that words still hurts.
We had another session with Dr. B, where she talked about forgiveness and how it is not necessarily for that person, but for you. She also talked about having hatred in your heart towards someone and how it can affect your future.
During this session, she told us to go to the wall inside the conference room, and she called it the “forgiveness wall.”
Many of us walked up to the forgiveness wall and started saying “I forgive you,” while others cheered and clapped for us. We all were crying. For some reason deep inside, I could not forgive my father.
Deputy [Malora] Duplantis saw me sitting in the corner looking upset and angry. She approached me and asked me what was wrong. I could not answer her because I was still feeling the hatred I have for my father. My father abandoned me, disowned me, and never did anything for me.
Later, Deputy Duplantis told me that she wanted me to do a one-on-one with Dr. B. We met with Dr. B after the session and she told me things that I would have never thought of. I learned that our past also affects our present. Dr. B said some things that truly touched me and helped me realize that I need to forgive my father, not for him but for myself.
When I finally let all that anger out of my heart, I felt so much better. I began to smile and Dr. B could see that I felt a lot better.
Attending this conference was truly a life-changing experience. I thank Dr. B, Deputy Duplantis, the Urban League, PBSO, and everyone who put this conference together to help us. I am truly glad to be a part of this wonderful event.
Ashley Barnes-Boswell
