Starfish Story

Touch Point Connection believes, like the boy in The Star Thrower, that one act can make a difference.

The Star Thrower

by Loren Eiseley

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so he walked faster to catch up.

starfishAs he got closer, he noticed the figure was that of a young boy who was not dancing at all. The young boy was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” To this, the young boy replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”

Coaching Teens… Building Futures

Students Say…

“It was good. My coach helped me a lot with organizing my life.”
“At first we just talked, it felt good to talk to someone and really trust them.”
“Before my coaching I had no idea of what to do after high school; now I have ideas on how to reach goals I didn’t know I had.”
“Before coaching I was getting C's and D's. Now I am getting A's and B's on my report card.”
“I learned that I can be independent and don’t have to rely on others, but can get support when I feel I need it.”
“It felt good to have an adult in my life that I could trust and didn’t judge me.”
“When asked what makes an ideal coach, she responded: "Somebody who listens to my opinions and helps me get more ideas about what I want.”
“I used to think of myself as lazy and a failure. Since I've had a coach, my perspective is different and now I can see myself being successful.”
“Before my coaching I had no ideas of what to do after high school. Now I have ideas on how to reach my goals.”
“Coaching has given me the strength to show the world what I've got and what I can do. I have learned to not limit my challenges but challenge my limits.”
“Coaching was a moment where I could just talk about what I want.”
“My coach and I worked on a graph so I could organize my time better. I was getting C’s and D’s on my progress report, now I am getting A’s and B’s on my report card.”
“I connected with my coach. I wasn’t afraid to tell her personal stuff. I could trust her because I wasn’t being judged.”
“I know now that when I have a problem there are different ways to solve it other than violence.”
“I had somebody who would help me set up steps to reach my goals. It wasn't complicated, she made it simple. It was positive, and I had the ability to identify those steps.”
“I had someone who just listened. When I had a question there was a combination of getting ideas from him, and figuring out myself.”
“Talking with someone helped me to understand what was right and wrong.”
“Since I started working with a coach I'm way more confident and I don't care if people judge me.”
“Our relationship was more about a friendship. I have told him secrets - things about myself I have not told anyone else.”
“Because of coaching, my life is better because I can actually meet my goals and reach for my future goals.   I'm stronger and more positive since having a coach.”
“My coach didn’t judge me and tell me I was throwing away my life.”
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