People of the Past evolves into a cherished local tradition

Celebrating “People of the Past” is more than a history lesson at Aurora Middle School. It’s become a cherished tradition, perhaps even a rite of passage.
There is so much to absorb when walking through the parade of young people dressed up, made up and dialed in to become their person of the past. I was impressed last week, yet again, by how much this event has grown to mean to not only the individuals on center stage for the evening, but in fact the entire community.
First and foremost, these kids take a crash course in history on a character of their choosing. Being able to speak knowledgeably for two solid minutes about a well-known celebrity or public figure requires research, and lots of it. Sharing that new-found knowledge verbally is perhaps an even bigger challenge for these young folks, and I would argue it’s one of the best life lessons they can learn.
“My kid has a lot of talents and ability, but public speaking ain’t one of them,” I overheard one parent say. And yet, I watched that young man swallow hard, look at his audience, chin up with confidence, and nail his two-minute narrative time after time. Good for you, young man, I thought to myself. You survived this event, and now know you can prepare and present your thoughts to an audience of adults and strangers, a skill set that will serve you well no matter what your life’s calling.
People of the Past is also a family affair, which I saw unfold in various ways yet again, recalling how our own family prepared for and embraced the POP challenge years ago. One family shared that they had made travel plans for that day, all of which were changed once the POP event was on the calendar. This is a one-time opportunity they didn’t want their child to miss out on, and with reason.
And finally there is a built-in lesson on giving back. As the POP audience knows, each presenter stands in silence until a donation of a quarter or more is placed at their feet. By the end of the night, the community had donated more than $3,000, which will be given to three charities of the students’ choosing, adding one more valuable lesson.
Students may not remember their script for long, but they’ll never forget the combined People of the Past life lessons.
-- Kurt Johnson