Submitted article
“The choice you make today will affect you and others tomorrow.” That was the theme of a unique presentation by illusionist Bryan Drake to Bucyrus Middle School students Oct. 16. Trinity Evangelical in Upper Sandusky and St. Paul’s UMC in Findlay made Drake’s presentation possible.
Leaders from the sponsoring churches had seen Drake perform during the Simply Youth Conference in Columbus. The decision was made to bring him to the local area because Drake offered something different and unique.
“We thought it would be a great opportunity for the schools to have this assembly because we knew that many of the students would not be able to see him at our REIGNITE youth service,” Trinity Evangelical Youth Director Chad Guined said. “His show is amazing, but what I truly admired about Bryan was that he told all of the students that everything they were going to see was just an Illusion.”
Throughout the performance, Drake invited students to join him to help with different illusions. One of the most popular was lifting a table with nothing more than a tablecloth on the table’s top.
“I participated in the table illusion, and it was amazing,” Bucyrus 7th grade student LaMya King. “The coolest part of the show, for me, was when I wrote a name on a piece of paper and he spray painted the name on a board without seeing the paper.”
King’s classmate Kiara Lewis also participated in the program when Drake invited her to come forward and select one book from a pile he spread on the gym floor.
“He had all these books on the floor and I had to pick up a book by the time he counted to zero,” Lewis said. “Whatever book I picked up showed the kind of person I truly am. I picked up Silence of the Lambs.”
While the illusions held the students’ attention, Drake’s message about choices was the focal point of his presentation.
“The message I got from his presentation was to never give up on your dreams and never let family down,” King said. “And to always be there for people in need.”
“The one lesson I learned was to always show who I truly am inside instead of acting like someone I’m not,” Lewis added.
Students weren’t the only ones impacted by Drake’s performance. Middle School staff also appreciated his method for delivering his message.
“I truly believe he impacted the students based on how he revealed his message,” 7th grade Language Arts teacher Denise Bloom said. “I enjoyed how he used his illusions to send a message to the students to show how their choices impact others, and it was important for the students to hear in hopes that they will analyze situations and make positive choices.”
Drake also shared personal stories about choices he’s made, and choices his friends have made, and the affects those choices had on others.
“He told the students about choices he has made in his past and how those choices have helped him,” Guined said. “He also told the story of his friend that made some choices that didn’t turn out to be the right choices, which led his friend to committing suicide. He explained how that choice his friend made not only affected him but also his family and those around him.”
While the district didn’t make a financial investment to bring Drake to the school, administrators saw his program as invaluable for the students and staff.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity Trinity Evangelical provided to have Bryan Drake bring his message to our school,” Secondary School Associate Principal John Massara said. “Our students left the gymnasium understanding that their choices affect more than just themselves, but also those around them. That’s an invaluable lesson and I’m thankful that Bryan shared his stories with them.”
For more information about Bryan Drake, visit his website at bryandrakeshow.com.