One interaction, one message, one acknowledgement can make a difference...What kind of community do you want to build.

Meet Jacob...a fictional 12 year old boy from Whitecourt, Alberta. Although these events and stories were created in our imagination they are real experiences that children, youth, adults, and seniors are faced with everyday. Take a moment to read Jacob's story and reflect on your life, relationships, and circumstances.

Who and What is Jacob's heart?

Our interactions with each other everyday can have a profound impact on those we meet, talk with, mentor, parent, and guide. Through our tone, words, actions, and emotions we can spark negative or positive reactions. Jacob's heart is about looking at how one interaction, one message, one acknowledgement can make the difference in his surroundings, environment, health, and well-being. Read each story and reflect on the events that impacted Jacob throughout his day, the emotions he experienced, and beliefs he created. With each day Jacob will either grow more resilient and confident or broken and displaced. Let's strengthen the foundation of our community and foster the leader's, mentors, parents, and counselors of tomorrow.

Jacob's Heart - Scenario One

Jacob, a 12 year old boy, from Whitecourt Alberta attends middle school. Jacob typically awakes to the sound of his mother pounding on his bedroom door, yelling “Wake up, it’s time for school. I have called you 3 times already and you are going to miss the bus if you don’t get your lazy bones out of bed!” Although Jacob doesn’t remember hearing his mother call him, he rolls out of bed and notices how late it is. Jacob starts his day by running to the bus without breakfast or a shower.

As Jacob gets on the school bus, the driver tells him he has to sit at the front as one of the little kids on the bus said that Jacob had pushed him yesterday. Although he never did it, Jacob sees no sense in arguing as the bus driver will never believe him.

Before the bell rings at school, Jacob’s friends dare him to ask Jenny to sit with him at lunch. Jacob really likes Jenny, and is nervous to ask her. After being teased and persuaded to ask her, Jacob approaches Jenny at her locker and asks to eat lunch with her. Jenny looks shocked then looks at her friends who look disgusted and says “No way, whatever made you think I would want to sit with you?” Jacob now feels everyone is looking at laughing at him.

During math class that day Jacob feels ready for the day to be done but remembers he has a test he didn’t study for. One wrong formula makes him get half of the answers wrong. The math teacher gives him a disappointed look while correcting the tests and pulls him aside at the end of class. “Jacob if you don’t straighten up your marks, I will be contacting your parents and you will need to stay after school every day. You don’t want to amount to nothing, do you?”

After school Jacob heads over to the Boy’s and Girl’s youth club. When he enters no one acknowledges his arrival and when he goes over to where the other kids are hanging out they don’t say hi or attempt to include him in conversation. Jacob decides to go home, which he finds is empty. He turns on the tv, sits down with a bag of potato chips and tries to figure out his math work alone. Jacob’s parents do not get home to well after 630 pm and rush to make a simple supper.

Jacob goes to bed that night feeling defeated, tired, and worthless and tries not to think about doing it all again tomorrow.

Jacob's Heart - Scenario 2

Jacob, a 12 year old boy, from Whitecourt Alberta attends middle school. Jacob typically awakes to the sound of his mother at his bedside, softly stating “Wake up, it’s time for school. I have called you 3 times already. I’ll have breakfast waiting for you when you get out of the shower” Although Jacob doesn’t remember hearing his mother call him, he rolls out of bed and notices how late it is. Jacob leaves his house just in time, after his shower and breakfast, and runs down the street to catch the bus.

As Jacob gets on the school bus, the driver tells him he has to sit at the front as one of the little kids on the bus said that Jacob had pushed him yesterday. Although he never did it, Jacob sees no sense in arguing as the bus driver will never believe him. However, Jacob’s driver makes small conversation on route to school and before he knows it he’s at school. The bus driver calls after him “have a good day, it was great chatting”

Before the bell rings at school, Jacob’s friends dare him to ask Jenny to sit with him at lunch. Jacob really likes Jenny, and is nervous to ask her. With encouragement from his friends, Jacob approaches Jenny at her locker and asks to eat lunch with her. Jenny looks embarrassed and tells Jacob that she promised her friends she would eat with them “but maybe tomorrow”.

During math class that day Jacob feels ready for the day to be done but remembers he has a test he didn’t study for. One wrong formula makes him get half of the answers wrong. After correcting the tests the teacher pulls him aside at the end of class. “Jacob, you seemed to have trouble with the test, is there anything I can help you with?”

After school Jacob heads over to the Boy’s and Girl’s youth club. Upon arrival he goes over to where the other kids are hanging out and because his day has gone so well Jacob asks to sit down and ends up talking with the new boy in class. They plan to meet up tomorrow. Jacob gets a text message from his mom saying that they will be a little late for supper but if he waits they can sit together and play a game while they eat as a family.

Jacob goes to bed that night feeling engaged, worthy, and hopeful and can’t wait to do doing it all again tomorrow.

" They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou