I recently had a show in South Texas near Padre Island, just a few miles from Starbase where SpaceX is developing Starship.
Tens of thousands of people had crowded into the area, and I found myself asking...
Why are so many people here?
Come to find out a rocket launch had been scheduled, but it was cancelled at the last minute because of a technical issue.
It got me thinking...
In today's technology-driven world, why would so many people—families with children, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—travel all that way when they could simply watch it on TV?
The answer is simple.
Because experiences matter.
We remember what we experience far longer than what we simply observe.
I had never seen Starship in person before, so the next day I drove over to the launch site anyway.
To be honest, I've seen a lot of things in my life, but standing there looking up at that rocket was incredible. It wasn't just the size of it. It was the feeling that came with standing there in person.
Seeing it with your own eyes is completely different than seeing it on a screen.
It sparked something in me. Before I knew it, I was reading everything I could about it. I wanted to know how it worked, how they got it 2 miles away to the launch pad, and every little detail about it and where it might take us someday.
That experience reminded me why I've spent nearly 18 years traveling from school to school performing for children.
Some experiences simply can't be replicated through a screen. I've now had the privilege of performing more than 1,700 shows for over 400,000 children, and one thing I've learned is this:
Children may not remember every word we say, but they'll often remember how we made them feel.
Whether it's watching a rocket launch, hearing live music for the first time, or sharing a moment of laughter with classmates, those experiences have a way of staying with us long after the day is over.
Thank you for everything you do to create those moments for the students you serve every day.
If you're planning programs for this school year—or even if you just have a question—I would love to hear from you.
