Below are actual stories from students Paul "Fritz" Dunbar has impacted through the Real Kids Real Life program. If you are a student and would like to share your story, e-mail Paul at: fritz@realkidsreallife.com

Letters

Dear Mr. Dunbar (Paul),

Hi, I am a Senior. I am proud to consider myself as being one of those "straight" people. However, I feel I too can help you understand a bit about our school from a different viewpoint.

Our school seems to be notorious for drugs and alcohol. Drug related accidents, etc. Those parents that need to confront the fact that their kids are into danger seldom do - and for that matter the same goes for the students themselves. They can't even stop to think of what they're actually doing to themselves - basically ruining their young lives. They have formed such rigid habits of destruction, they almost never seem to care.

People try to get kids to break their habits. Clubs are formed and disciplinary rules are vigorously constructed by the same authority that seems to PREACH at the students. And in the midst of this mess comes you - Paul Dunbar - with a whole new perspective.

Once again, we the students have been confronted about the problems; but in a factual, fresh, sincere and caring way. What you have said many of my classmates have never heard. (or it has been a long time) We all needed to hear your words of reassurance and encouragement - as well as those words that were shocking and even at times depressing. You have caused people to stop and think.

Finally, thank you! You have made the ears of all those that heard you more aware and willing to act. Thank you for giving up so much in order that you might help people save and grab their own lives. I can tell you have a mission and I will remember to pray to God, for you, that it goes well.

Much love and admiration,
A 17 year old girl

Hello!
    Hope you have or had a nice trip back from Ohio, I was in your assembly today, and I also talked to you with a girl Sam at the end of the day. What you do, is something that I could honestly only dream of. I cannot agree with anything that people are doing nowadays. We all know drugs/drinking and suicidal thoughts are present in high school but we let it slide. I think that kids do put a "smile" on walking into school for a reason. It may not be to look happy. But its their different personality to fit in, a kids gonna drink or do drugs most likely from peer pressure. It's very sad that kids can give in so easily, and its people like you that help the ones, stay away, or come back into "reality" stop doing what they are doing. If there is any possible way I could help, just ask. What I liked about today's assembly was the "truth" about it. People deal with these types of problems everyday including yourself in which i'm sorry for. Every last person I talked to today about what you did was still "shocked" or "dumbfounded" from the experiences you have had. You did *** High School and I a favor. You made me realize how precious every last thing you do. You made the school realize a lot more because you touched over 500 kids with your wisdom. I do not want to lose contact with you because I find that I can talk to you. Thank you so much.

Your Friend,
"David"

Dear "Fritz"

My name is Jamie. You came to my school in Ohio and I just wanted to say something. Your speech to us was so effective that I wished that all people were like you. God has surely blessed you and it's not something to take for granted.

When teachers talk about drugs, they never give reasons why you shouldn't take drugs. Obviously you researched the info. May God protect you in all your wanderings. I'm glad that there are people that care about us teens. Keep up the good work!!!! And I hope that you will never forget that all we want is for someone to listen.

Sincerely,
Jamie

Fritz~

Hi my name is Elizabeth. You spoke at my school in Missouri. I do not have a certain problem. I am just a normal 16-year-old girl.

I remember when my sister was a senior the last time you came and spoke here. You really touched base with her. I know that she had smoked weed. But when you came and spoke, I think that is when she quit it all together. She is now married and has a baby in great health.

I just thought you might want to know a little about a life that you touched. I thank you for helping her, who knows where she would be if she had not stopped.

I also wrote you to tell you that I admire your devotion to coming and speaking with teenagers all around. I admire you for solving what so many adults can't figure out; to talk to kids not at them. Teens need someone to speak with not someone to lecture them before they even have their sentence through.

I thank you for being there for so many people.

Lizzie

Dear Fritz,
        You came to my school today and as I walked into the gym I looked at you like a stranger that couldn't get through to me, but by the end of the speech I looked at you like a great friend who I have known for years and I felt like you cared not only about me but the whole youth. I don't drink, smoke, or self mutilate myself, well not anymore anyway. Now having said that let me just tell you how you got through to me.

        Whenever I was in the 8th grade and until my sophomore year I felt like as if my whole life was a huge failure. I have no clue why I felt this way, perhaps it was the ridicule I got everyday, or maybe it was because I couldn't please my friends, whatever it was it almost ruined my whole life. It started in the 8th grade when other kids made me realize that I wasn't as fortunate as them, people ridiculed me for the craziest things from the clothes I wore to even my grades. You see when the kids would make fun of me I would do what they wanted me to do, but the sad thing is when I would do that people would just make fun of me more. I eventually just got sick and tired of this and turned to alcohol as a resort to my pain. I would let it all build up and when the weekend got around I would just drink. After awhile I realized that alcohol really didn't cure the pain like I wanted it to so I turned to cutting myself and burning myself until my sophomore year. I had drank, smoke, and cut myself from the 8th grade to my sophomore year. Thats not the worst of it the thing that scares me the most is that I stood on a balcony 12 stories high debating on whether I should jump or not just because of 4 simple words a kid said to me "you won't be missed."

   I am now a senior in high school and I haven't drank, smoke, or cut myself since the 10th grade. I realize that there are hundreds of thousands of kids out there whose lives are so much worse than I could even imagine mine being and thats why I want to thank you for devoting so much time into doing this. The reason I quit all of that stuff is because I talked to one of my best friends about it and we talked and talked and cried and I finally realized that I was somebody and thats what I want to thank you for. There are kids out there in so many situations and they have no one to turn to or they are to embarassed to talk to someone about it for the fear of being called a freak for hurting themselves, but the truth of it all is those kids need to talk to someone. You seem to get through to everyone and you relate to those kids in so many different ways. And everything you say is the truth. It seemed like you cared so much for each and everyone of us and that you didnt care about the money as a reward. It seemed like a reward to you was getting kids to stop smoking, drinking, and self mutilating theirselves and I thank God for putting you here on earth to relate to us.

     As for me I am a senior in high school who absolutely loves life and loves everything I do! I have a great family life, social life and spiritual life and have great plans for the future, also just like you I want to see kids stop making destructive decisions. You have touched me and have made me be gratefull for everything that is in my life because in a split second it could be gone. I thank you again for talking to us and reaching through to us. May God Bless you and I hope you change many more kids' lives! Thank you Fritz! 

                    Sincerely,
                        "Josh"          

Dear Fritz,

You came to my school, Tri-Village, and when I went in there I sat in our auditorium with the attitude that nothing you said could change me. But I was wrong, what you did say changed me.

I talked to you afterwards about how a few months ago I struggled with suicide and about how my ex-boyfriend had me on the phone saying he was going to kill himself as he walked out to his car and took his gun out of his glove box.

I just wanted to thank you so much for changing me. By the end of the assembly I found myself clapping while I was sitting with my friends, they were still very cynical and asked me why I was clapping, but I just ignored them and kept right on clapping. So thank you so much. I truly believe you saved my life today by making me realize that life is worth living and that suicide is a permanent fix to a temporary problem. I know now that no bad situation is worth my life.

And I would just like to ask you to keep on doing the wonderful job your doing. And may God bless you for this, because I know that He knows what you are doing is wonderful.

My love and support,

Sam

Dear Paul,

How can I ever repay you for what you have done for me. My life has changed so much this last year. I even think I love myself. You helped me to get in touch with who I am and encouraged me to be a better person.

You motivated me to stop drinking and to overcome my fears and you have always been so proud of me when I succeeded. You respect my thoughts and opinions and taught me to feel they were worthwhile and worth expressing.

You have shown me that I am worth something. That I do not have to be someone that I am not that I can be myself and I am special. Your calls and letters have meant so much to me and I always look forward to hearing from you. A year ago I did not know where I was going but today, thanks to you I do. You have given me back my life and for that I will be indebted to you forever.

Hurry and write me back, I love you.

Jessica

ORDINARY MAN

Standing in the center of a high school gymnasium stood a man with hundreds of teenagers peering at him attentively. He looked like an ordinary man when you first saw him. He had silver hair which lay in a feathered manner, deep brown eyes that were set off by silver framed glasses, a rosy complexion, and a voice which traveled from your ears to your soul.

As he began to speak you could see him reliving the stories that created a tidal wave of emotions for the audience. The message which they came to realize was that the stories were not just about tragedies of mere strangers, but ironically, themselves and others they knew. Some reacted with tears, others in silence, some would laugh, but only for the reason of fear, because they had either never felt the emotions before or wanted to deny the emotions they were feeling. Some began to realize the stories of other teenagers were mirrored images of themselves and they were determined to correct it in themselves.

Despite the differences of the emotions within the audience, one thing was true. What appeared to be an ordinary man touched the heart and soul of many people. No longer was he an ordinary man, instead, a man with the selfless goal to better the lives of teenagers. No, this was no longer the ordinary man the audience saw in the beginning, but an admirable follower of God.

"All of the flowers of all of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." Thanks for realizing that teenagers will be the future and helping that future look brighter. God bless you.

Sincerely,

One of the many students you touched at Mattoon High School, Mattoon, Illinois.

Thank you.