Just a glimpse of the impact on the lives of the students who have been to the "Beat the Odds" school assembly.

I am a girl from Southmoreland Highschool. I have seen your assembly twice, and I still hope to see it even more. I think what you are doing is soooooo great. You help influence so many kids and adults for the good. My dad is a recovered alcoholic. He used to be one, and it took a few DUI's to wake up. He finally stopped when he was in his worst accident in 2000. He realized he couldn't do that anymore. I am very proud of him for quiting. I know it must be hard.
I really enjoy what you do, and I would even like to do something like it. Because of what I saw my dad and family go through, I am very much against Drugs and Alchohol, but some of my friends aren't. I'm sure some of them were helped by your assembly. I really would like to get through to the rest of them, and get them to stop. Because sometimes, I am very afraid of something happening to them.
Thank you so much for what you do. Very few people would even haven the guts to stand up for that. I just want to thankyou again, and tell you that you are my hero.

-Jess F. [Southmoreland Highschoo]

Hello, I am a sophomore at Southomoreland Highschool. I just wanted to say your assembly was amazing. I also wanted to say I think what you do has to be one of the most honest, most memorable, and most honorable things a man can do. I originally came from Uniontown HighSchool. A lot of people there did drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, hurt themselves, and anything unsafe. Growing up around that isn't the best. My boy friend and most of my friend still go there, and it is still just as bad if not worse. Southmoreland is one of the best highschools I have been to, I've been to three. I know you must be very busy but Uniontown is a very bad school. Almost half of the female sudents graduate pregnant or with atleast one child, they have a drug raid more than once a month there. When I was in 6th grade like ten of my friends got suspended for drugs, one had weed, cocaine, vicadine, and some other things; He even went to juvi. This was in sixth grade. Uniontown has school security guards there 24/7/365 days a year, they have a parol office in their school they have so many students on house arrest, they are also one of the only school with drug trained dogs, not the police trained dogs, these dogs are the schools. I'm not telling you this to try and upset you. Its just after seeing and hearing you talk today, all I could think of was "Wow all of my friends, I wish they could hear this. Maybe then some of them would change." When I lived with my dad I cut myself, I've actually put myself in the hospital for near suicide several times. Hearing you today makes me realize that even though I may not mean much to my family I mean something to some one else. Thank you very much

Brittanie

Bob,

My name is Sean and I'm one of the juniors at Southmoreland High School you pretty much beat. I want to thank you for the wonderful presentation you gave us today. You actually took the same old, "don't conform to 'cool' and don't do drugs/drive drunk/give up on life" crap we never get enough of and made it interesting by providing an enjoyable activity. Usually, we get some form of random hobo off the street who preaches to us, or a ridiculous movie. But this year was different. We could actually relate to what you have showed us, we could actively participate... Never have I seen an assembly of a caliber of what you presented us. A big thanks from all for giving us an excellent show and a life lesson many need to understand. (I've become a "Help! My life is in shambles" hotline for some reason) Hopefully those who saw the show will realize that ending their life prematurely isn't worth it.

Thanks again for the show,
Sean

Bob,

Hey! I go to Northwest High School. And I just wanted to Thank you for coming to my school today.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate what you do and why. So many teens die every year from committing suicide. And it kills me to even begin to think about why anyone would want to do that.

You are an inspiration, you are a hero, and you're a mind changer. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It really hurt me inside to see what had happened to the girl who got hit by the drunk driver. And it really, really brought tears to my eyes, when I looked across that gym and saw all my other class mates with tears in their eyes, and to know that we could all relate.

One thing's for sure... I won't be picking up another alcoholic drink in a very, very long time!

Thanks Again. You will forever be in my heart, soul and mind. Please don't ever stop what you do, Because believe it or not...You are helping us, and we are finally, for once, listening.

I don't even know how much I can thank you. With every piece of love in my body, I thank you. With every Breath I take I thank you, and with every muscle in my body I thank you!!!!!!

Thanks again!
We really do love you!

Dear Bob Holmes,

WOW. Is all I can say. There no other words to explain the impact your speech made on me. The amazing ability you have to play volleyball on a one man team is unbelievable. Sports are the most important thing in my life besides academics. I love all the teams you played against. Your amazing. I watched you when you came to Northwest High School. That school has many problems with athletes drinking and driving and getting into bad things that will get them in trouble. I guarantee the speech you said today will definitely help a lot of the students with thinking about what they are about to do with drinking and the decisions they make in there lives each and every day. Thank you sooo much for taking time out of your day to come and visit Northwest High School in Jackson, Michigan. I know our school is way out in the boonies and you had to make the drive, but thank you so much and I know a lot of people appreciated what you had to say. Your Amazing and never quit what you are doing. A lot of people are listening. Thanks Again.

Sincerly,

This is ***** from Elba Central School of New York. You visited my school on Monday the 22nd of 2006. I wanted to say that I think what your doing is just mind boggling and I’m very glad your doing it. I also wanted to say that your program/setup really made a difference in my life. This actually lifted my heart back into my chest. I have been going through some incredibly depressing times and just didn’t know what to do or where to go. At many occasions has it gotten to the point where I felt like life wasn’t worth it. You really made a great change for me. Thank you is all I can say. I also wanted to say that you have one wicked serve, I’m not sure how fast that ball was traveling but it was faster then I could ever serve it at. Oh one last thing, you’re in great shape for 50yrs old. Keep it up! Again thank you for everything!

Sincerely,

I'm 13 years old and i attend Westside . You visited us and really got through your point. The suicide thing really helped us all. I was close to one of the boys that recently committed suicide, and i still won't allow myself to believe it. Its hard to lose someone you are close to, but to lose someone like that is even worst. The worst part is he was only 16 and had a wonderful life, and he doesn't realize what he is missing now. He is my inspiration to hold my head high and smile as big as i can! PLEASE don't stop doing what you do.That was really amazing. I've been to many conventions, and listened to many people talk, but I haven't sit there and really payed attention till I heard you speak. Try visiting as many schools as possible, your saving ALOT of lives. If they ever say no to you, stand your ground because they will not regret listening!

Thanks so much you truly are a inspiration.