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and another girl who was denied affection from her mother because she was “too old to be a baby.” All those kids were hurting in different ways, but because someone reached out and let them know they weren’t alone, they were able to find a way to get through their darkest times.

“You can help someone else have hope,” he said. “These kind of things happen to all of us... they may not listen to me, but they will listen to you. Make sure they know you care and that they can do this.”

Sometimes, Talley said, it can be difficult to tell if a person is having a hard time. Masks that people create for themselves can hide their struggles very well. In the cases of some of those other kids he has met, Talley said others thought the kid was just acting weird, or were scary and unapproachable, or they didn’t even notice the child’s pain. But the pain is still there, and those who are struggling should not be afraid to remove their mask and let someone in.

“Some of you are very good at giving big smiles, but you’re hiding a lot. You can find yourself keeping up this facade, but you don’t have to keep up this facade for someone to like you,” he said. “The older you get, the more you wear a mask, the more you feel you have to keep that mask on. I would hate for you to feel like you have to do that for the rest of your life.”

Looking out over the crowd of students and teachers, Talley said it would be impossible for him to know each and every struggle that a person is going through. But he knows that life has been hard for so many in different ways. They need to stay strong and refuse to give up.

“I’m sorry for the person in here right now that feels they don’t have a future,” he said. “But don’t give up. That feeling you have when you feel like you’re drowning? You’re not drowning, you’re fighting.”

Terrence Talley (left) dances alongside some teachers at the start of his March 6 presentation.

Terrence Talley (right) directs a portion of his speech to the teachers from the Loyal and Greenwood School Districts during his high school presentation March 6. He thanked the teachers for the work they have put in to teach their students and encouraged them to keep making a difference in their student’s lives.

Students from the Loyal and Greenwood High Schools exchange hugs with their teachers at the end of Terrence Talley’s presentation. The two groups not only gave each other hugs, but also handshakes, fist bumps and other gestures of support and thanks.

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTOS