You never know, unless you go
The power of showing up!
Written by Jess, Edited by Jenna
It’s been a few months, but Pali High is back! Back home. On campus. A big deal. Monumental. A huge sign of hope as the community rebuilds.
And they didn’t just go back to school quietly. They did so the Pali way. Parents, friends, neighbors, and community members showed up - with signs, pom poms, news cameras, and lots of cheering!
The night before the big day back, I debated. Should I go? Will others actually go? What if the planned welcome back event is a bust? And then the excuses. Pali is the opposite direction of work. It will make for a very long day. I don’t even have a poster board or markers. Excuse after excuse.
And then I remembered the saying… “You never know unless you go”. A childhood mantra. Over and over we heard - if you stay home, you know what is going to happen. Nothing. But if you say yes and go, you never know!
So I grabbed two flimsy white papers and a blue highlighter and made two signs (nothing elaborate, but something). Got up early. Drove with my 16-year-old to Pali. Let him walk ahead of me (of course, I couldn’t embarrass him!). And I showed up!
And so did so many others! Close friends. Neighbors I hadn’t seen in months. Crying, hugging, cheering, watching the smiles on each teen’s face as they walked by and back into their high school. A true alive moment! A powerful reminder of the importance of community and the impact people can have when they come together.
So the next time you’re debating about whether or not to go - just do it. You never know who you may meet, what you may learn, or how that experience may change your path. Most of the magic in life starts with simply saying yes and showing up.
Next steps:
Reflect on a time you said yes and went. What happened?
Not sure about going to an event? Think about what could happen if you go.