Unusual Talent Makes History

Terry: This is Terry Grouse for Fresh Perspective. Today I'll interview Roger Smith. Roger, everyone knows you as the President's Special Envoy and the one who has brought peace to the Middle East. But we haven't heard your childhood story.

Roger: Well, I was a normal boy, but I had not discovered my talent. My teacher told me, "Everyone has a talent." That week, I was determined to find my talent. On Monday I played soccer at recess to see if I had a talent for sports.

Terry: How did that turn out?

Roger: Two bullies told me I was slow. They tried to beat me up after the game, but I talked them out of it.

Terry: I imagine you wouldn't go back.

Roger: That is right. I barely made it to school the next day. I was sore from running. So then I tried an art class. All I could draw was stick figures. However, my friend Roy was even worse than I was. He just threw paint on the paper. Frank said that Roy might as well be in preschool. I said, "Frank, the beauty of art is determined by those who look at it. Maybe Roy is trying to imitate Jackson Pollock."

Terry: Is Roy your friend who has his artwork in the Smithsonian? I have interviewed him.

Roger: Yes, I was there when they installed his work in the sculpture garden. Then I thought I had musical talent, but I broke a couple of guitar strings, and that was that.

Terry: So how did you find your talent?

Roger: All week long I complained that I didn't have any talent. On Friday, my teacher suggested that maybe my talent wasn't the skill taught in the class, but being able to get along with the students in the class. After that, I started to realize I had the talent to be a peacemaker, and the rest is history.

Terry: What a wonderful story of talented students-and insightful teachers.