Annapolis High School Students Encouraged to Find the Gift Within Them

Hundreds of students heard a powerful message while they packed the Annapolis High School auditorium on Wednesday.

“You can take the simplest thing and use it to make the world a better place,” said Nontombi Naomi Tutu.

The inspirational message was delivered by Tutu, a human rights activist and the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In addition to AHS students, the audience included groups from Annapolis and Bates middle schools.

Tutu grew up in apartheid South Africa. She spoke during a question-and-answer session with the students of having to go away to boarding school during this time. Some of her many accomplishments include serving as a development coordinator in West Africa and a program coordinator at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town for programs on Race and Gender and Gender-Based Violence in Education.

She has dedicated her life to speaking on the important topics of justice and equality and she spoke of discovering that gift through her love of talking.

Tutu’s appearance was part of the high school’s celebration of Black History Month. Prior to the speech, members of the Annapolis High School Chorus performed several songs, including “We Shall Overcome.”

Tutu was introduced by Margaret Doyle, Jonathan Lee and TaJuan Watson, all seniors at AHS in the International Baccalaureate Programme.  Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell and Solon K. Webb, a board of education member from Annapolis, were among those in attendance.

Students were encouraged to pay attention and to really soak up the unique opportunity of having a speaker such as Tutu at their school.

“This is a great, great opportunity that we have here and I hope we take this chance to get a lot out of it,” AHS Principal Don Lilley said.

Tutu’s speech, “Embracing Our Gifts: Accepting Our Challenges,” encouraged students to find the gift within them. She began by reading a poem by Gregory Norbet called, “There is a Pearl of Great Price Within You.” Tutu used the poem to make a main point.

“When hardship is introduced into our lives is the time that we are able to show the extent of our gifts," she said.

She also told the students that finding their gift is up to them.

“You have to be the one to choose how to use your gift,” she said.

Another message Tutu delivered was to not judge people too quickly, adding that people can often learn from those around them.

“The person who is the biggest irritant to you is very likely a pearl waiting for you, " she said.

Following the speech, students asked questions—ranging from asking her about the biggest challenge in her life to how to tell when you've discovered your gift. Tutu also spoke to the students about growing up in apartheid South Africa. One student asked how apartheid compared to racism in North America.

Laura Pinto, a social studies teacher at Bates Middle School, who brought a group of seventh- and eighth-graders from the school’s Model U.N. program, sees a gift in the students she works with each day. 

“I think they can be the change in the world,” she said of her students.