I went to school for most of my life in Louisiana, then I spent the rest of high school going to school here in Colorado. Starting off the day with the morning announcements in Colorado though, was a completely different experience than listening to them in Louisiana.
At West Monroe High School, the morning announcements were a morning newscast that was broadcast to each television in every class. However, the announcements I remember the most, the ones I remember today, were uttered from the former principal of my middle school, Good Hope Middle School, Principal Anthony Killian.
Principal Killian, “Mr. Killian,” or “Missa Killian,” was a very tall black man. Every day he wore a shirt and tie. Not once was he ever seen with his pants hanging low, and he made sure that all the middle school boys didn’t have that chance either.
Every morning before class, he would come on the speakers, introduce a student, who would lead us all in the Pledge of Allegiance. He would then initiate a moment of silence, followed by various other news.
In closing, he would always conclude with, “Have a good day; I know I will.”
This used to ignore many of my classmates; It even ignored me. How could he say such a thing, when he had no idea of the pressures and stress that we fourteen year olds were so burdened with?
Yet, “Missa Killian,” drove almost an hour to school each day, when only one of his assistant prinicipals lived in the school district. He had a wife and a family. He also helped start Good Hope Middle School, a school built for 700 kids, and helped lead the school through its first year, when it was packed with over 800 kids.
In conclusion, though it did not always seem like it, “Missa Killian,” was a man to be respected because he knew how to start his day off right and how to inspire us to start ours. It was not just with morning announcements; He wanted us to start off our days and live our days for Jesus. For, if we did this, we could start any day knowing that it would be good, just because…
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
I still can see him now and I am just amazed, because I have not thought about “Missa Killian” and his “morning announcements” for years. It’s funny what watching a little Jimmy Fallon can lead to. Even more so, it’s amazing what truth Jesus can lead you to, help you remember, if you just let Him, and take the time, to listen.
🙂
Until Next Time,
Jacobo
The Adventures of A Warrior 