Any professional journalist will tell you that maintaining an objective point of view is a critical part of telling an accurate and interesting story.
Boston Globe reporter Billy Baker maintained this principle when he went in search of an interesting story about someone on the #19 bus line in Boston.
He found it, through the help of Emmett Folgert, who runs the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, in the story of George and Johnny Huynh, who traveled on the #19 bus from their rough neighborhood into Boston Charter School, which Billy called “one of the great symbols of hope” in the city.
George and Johnny, in addition to their older sister, had essentially raised themselves after the divorce of their parents. Their father committed suicide, and their mentally ill mother was unable to work.
With support and guidance from a neighborhood mentor, they were able to get to school at Boston Charter School.
Billy documented their story in a series of articles in the Boston Globe, in addition to a video. The story was met with much interest, and an outpouring of support for the boys.
After it was over, however, is when Billy was able to leave his objectivity behind, and become part of the boys’ life.
“After the story ran, our story was just beginning. I stayed close to the boys, partly out of an obligation, but mostly because I cared about them. They inspired me. And they were fun.”
What transpired next was a symbol of all I consider right with the world:
With self-determination, love and mentoring, the youngest son George was able to accomplish something amazing.
I will let you read the conclusion yourself. Be sure to watch the original Boston Globe story, and the video.
http://www.thewrap.com/boston-globe-reporter-tweets-incredible-american-dream-story-twitter
There are three things that hit me profoundly about this story:
Your past history of pain and scars does not dictate a future of more pain and scars.
Sometimes challenge can incite powerful action, like the focus and drive that George and Johnny had to succeed. After overcoming huge odds to achieve academic success, they mentored kids from similar backgrounds.
Their understanding of the reality of struggle and poverty meant that they were specially equipped to help their peers.
They were driven to a better life so that they would not repeat the painful past of their parents.
When you look for good stories, and the good in all stories, good stories come to you
Billy began this journey looking for a good story.
“At that moment, I was looking for hope. I had seen some rough things. A lot of people who saw no end to their struggle. And I wanted to end the series on a positive note. When I saw that bus go by, I knew immediately that I had found my story.”
After publishing the original article and being released from the need to be objective, Billy Baker became a mentor to George and Johnny. The quality of his own life, and the faith in his profession, was strengthened by the experience of getting involved in the lives of these young men.
I firmly believe that we spend too much time looking for the bleakness in life — economic woes, political divides and personal challenges.
What if instead we went in search for the good in bleak stories? How might we believe differently in the world, and in ourselves?
Storytelling is very powerful in new mediums
I was very moved by the way that Billy Baker told his story on Twitter. I don’t know if he wrote the whole thing out in advance, or crafted one tweet at a time.
The process is secondary. The result is what I loved – an emotional, dramatic, community journey to a powerful ending.
I imagine that George, Johnny and Billy will continue to face challenges in the future.
Life is not as neat and sappy as a Hallmark Christmas special.
But we have a choice about the stories we tell about ourselves and each other.
Craft your stories well.
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5 Days Remain!
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Inspiring to know that folks the search for good stories comes up with something as inspiring as this one. It’s very heart warming and great to know that folks are still helping each other.
It’s weird how inspiration doesn’t last as long.