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 Albert Einstein said, “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.”
As a site educator in the Cunningham Children’s Home Transitional Living Program, John Skillings exemplifies this definition of mastery. John’s gift is not just about being competent in what he does – which he is, very competent. John’s gift is his ability to be himself and give of himself in all that he does.
John is relentless in his desire and mission to assist the young men in the transitional living program to become independent, productive, healthy, and successful citizens. John is a great teacher and role model. He ensures that each young man has a clear understanding of what is expected within the program. John breaks down each life domain into various tasks which will meet the individual, unique learning style of each young man. John teaches them the task. He gives them the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained. He then holds them responsible and accountable to perform these skills independently. And, he does all of this with gentle, supportive guidance and feedback.
John actively engages the young men in ways to become “real men” by his humble example. He shares being a gentle man and a gentle giant. He stresses the importance of not letting negative past experiences and poor self-esteem keep you from becoming the man you are meant to be. John values a good work ethic, moral upright behavior, and being a contributing, productive, healthy human being and citizen. He shares these values with our youth by being a living example for them.
John helps the young men focus on hope and on the future, not the past. John’s interactions with the young men are always marked with kindness, humility, empathy, fairness, firmness, consistency, and humor. John interacts with his co-workers in the same manner. As was stated in the letter of nomination for this award, “The young men and all of us who work with John have mastered skills, achieved goals, had seeds of hope planted in our lives and been positively influenced by John.”
The greatest accomplishment in life is to live your life. John Skillings is a man of humility and integrity who devotes his “whole strength and soul” to living his life in service to the youth of Cunningham Children’s Home.
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