ThinkFirst
My last post examined the incredible opportunity I’ve had to share my experience of life before and after brain injury with others through presentations to the public with Krempels Center. While my engagement with Krempels Center’s Community Education group focuses on educating the community on what life is like for BI survivors and KC’s unique and beneficial community based programming; ThinkFirst allows me to highlight the cautionary aspects of my story.
Interestingly, it was through my brother’s speaking for ThinkFirst shortly after his Spinal Cord Injury that I became aware of TF’s community engagement. At that time, I was in college and although I thought it was a great thing Andy was doing, didn’t give it more than a passing thought. Fast forward about 11 years and a former KC intern, Zoe McLean contacted a KC coordinator to inquire if any members whose BI had been preventable would be willing to share their story. Zoe had been an Occupational Therapy student at UNH and intern at Krempels before working as an OT at Portsmouth, NH’s Northeast Rehabilitation. After a group of Neurologists observed that many of the devastating injuries they treated were preventable, a desire to prevent these occurrences planted the seeds for TF!
From this simple observation, ThinkFirst has grown into a national organization, partnering with Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network along with BIANH (Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire) to reach students throughout New England. How it works is: Facilitated by Zoe, TF visits area schools to present to groups of students. Each presentation consists of a short video showing the stories of a number of survivors of preventable neurological injury. After the video, the facilitator (Zoe or another therapist from Northeast) gives a brief PP presentation on the program with some pertinent facts and statistics. The classroom presentation typically ends with one or two survivors present sharing their stories followed by questions. I was honored to be asked a few years back to contribute my story when the video was updated.
The filming took place in Chicago and truly was one of the most powerful and honoring experiences of my life. There were 6 of us survivors along with a few family members who collaborated with a film crew and the TF team to create the powerful video. I remember flying back to Boston after the experience flooded with pride and inspiration to be both a part of and continue ThinkFirst’s mission!
Just this past week, it was a pleasure to visit a local middle school with TF to present to a couple different groups of students. The experience of presenting to students has become less nerve racking with my any discomfort coming more from fear of failing to deliver a strong message rather than worry of embarrassment or a poor personal showing. Interestingly, however, I sometimes find myself thinking that my physical appearance may be duplicitous after the students watch the video. Seeing the reaction of students after realizing that that kid in the video is now standing in front of their desks affirming the story squelches that thought real quick.
We’re all familiar with the saying that kids think they’re invincible. In fact, I remember cringing whenever that admonishment came my way. And yet, I have to admit to being somewhat guilty of the feeling of invincibility myself. It wasn’t that I thought I was actually bulletproof or “too smart” to make dangerous choices, rather I thought the chances of catastrophe were so slim, I often made choices impulsively. While the goal isn’t to create scared kids who are afraid to live, hopefully following our presentations the importance of making safe choices and the dangers of risky behavior are emphasized. I’m incredibly grateful to work with ThinkFirst to “Serve NH schools and communities by providing at no cost, injury prevention presentations.” (https://www.northeastrehab.com/thinkfirst/)