Donate
Close

Private Build

This is a private build and requires a password.

Login / SignUp
Donate

Category: Road Team

The Zombie Apocalypse of Tour

We started from the bottom, now we’re here, we started from the bottom now the whole team’s here. Actually, we started in Ontario, now we’re here, and here is Vancouver, British Columbia. 
 
Coming to the LiveDifferent Academy I now realize I had absolutely no idea what to expect. When I decided to apply for the academy, I had seen a few presentations and heard about Live Different’s Hero Holidays from a team of students that went at my school. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but, was I ever wrong. Coming into this I thought I would be touring with a group of normal, quiet people. I figured we would be well rested and very professional. As time passed, I realized that my team had been infected with a virus; and not just any virus but one that turned them into zombies! This means they never sleep, they are extremely loud – at all the wrong moments, they act weird and awkward in large groups, and most unorthodox of all, they bite! 
 
 
So what I’m trying to say is that this blog is a cry for help. I’m trapped, they have taken me and I am sure that they are real zombies. Please come and find me – it might be difficult because we move around a lot but I’ll tell you as much as I can. We are traveling around the west in a large black bus that they call ‘Black Chedda’’. A techno country reggae mix is usually blasting out of the speakers and their leader who also happens to be the driver, has evasive driving skills! (So just a tip if your going to come rescue me, you will need a big fast truck to catch up).
 
I bet you’re wondering how I came to the conclusion that they were real zombies huh, well I’ll explain it to you. They began only showing symptoms that they had been infected – things such as sleeping in strange positions on the bus, having weird jerky dance moves, and just simply by biting. As time passed all these symptoms only intensified the sleeping was either oddly or non-existent, the dancing became more intense – to the point where trying to keep up with these zombies left me with a sore neck, and the attempted bites became more frequent. As all of these things were happening they also thought that climbing 5.5 km up a mountain was a good idea and jumping around in gravel pits would be fun. Let me tell you, they were right. As strange as these zombies are they are my family, and I wouldn’t trade them in for the world. 
 
 
Being on tour has taught me a lot. I have learned that I may be part zombie, or am at least turning into one the longer I spend with them. But it has also taught me it is perfectly normal to be weird, because eventually you’ll find where you’re supposed to be, and you’ll find people (or zombies, whichever you prefer) who are just as weird as you are. At times I miss my normal family and even though I’m not home I know that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. 
 
P.S. The events mentioned in the first parts of this blog may have been slightly exaggerated, but were all based of off real experiences. Enjoy. 
 
P.P.S. I learned that the bites – they were just a way of the zombies showing they loved and accepted me – they weren’t trying to eat me, phew I was really worried I might not make it to the end of tour.
 
Tianna – LiveDifferent Academy Student, Fall 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: December 13th, 2013

TEAM 2 VS. THE WORLD

One sunny day in the in the brisk air of autumn, in a province known for its rolling landscape of hills and mountains, known as BC; British Columbia there was a team of nine people who much like Christopher Columbus were discovering new worlds that they did not yet know of but were having an overwhelmingly exciting and educational time learning and exploring the newness of these lands. It was not only in the province of BC that they were expeditioning as for they had also been located earlier on in the previous hours in the lands of Saskatchewan; the flattened part of this country in which you can watch your dog run away for weeks, and Alberta; place of the big trucks, cracked wind shields and big oil farming industries. On this fine day they had adventured from Saskatchewan to BC with their great leader and captain, Father Jamie on their shipbus Black Cheta, the infamous yet trusty vessel that brought team 2 from place to place and journeyed with them as part of their team. It was the furthest towards the tip of the earth, known as north, which the team had ventured so far and the views surrounding Black Cheta were miraculous views of their fine country that some had not thought to be possible. The world was molded into a variety of shapes that would fit any idea a person could have; from the waves of an ocean to the imitation of the clouds, it was really quite the sight.

 

 

Now that the scene and the atmosphere have been set out it is time to address the activities of this time frame as much occurred in the several hours surrounding these days. They had performed an informational presentation at an institute for youngins to learn, and had a rather amazing experience at this location. Several members of team 2 had stellar conversations with the students of the high school after the show and they really sparked up some great talks that both participants will remember for years to come. As proof to this our other leader, Navigator Brittany, reconnected with students with whom she had become acquainted with the previous year. The impact that we had on the school was astounding to see and inspiring to all members. The students were well riled up during the time which the three boys in our team known as the Half Singing Chancers got up and made jams, that is music as they call it. Whilst Father Jamie was harvested into a new being known as Animal Master and lead an excersisional routine the crowd was right rowdy and just loved it. When other members told their stories the students leaked from their eyes with emotional connection. Overall the crowd was a jubilant jumping expanse of people seated on the gym floor, what an inspiration!

 

 

Another adventurous situation that occurred in the town that was quite confused as to what province it is in, known as Lloyd, is known as The Great Flood. One preposterously interesting day the team was wonderfully constructive; the girls got stuff done with Father Jamie and Half Jordan such as shopping for items and off-road cart racing and the Singing DJ and Chancers Ryan killed zombies on a screen. Our fearless leader concluded that Black Cheta needed an automated bath, but the machinated location bath which he decided to cleanse our tranporter with had it out for the two. As the bath started and the two were stuck in it the water from the showerbath started to pour into the bus! Father Jamie gunned it out of the bath and into the sunny world, only to realize that the innards of Black Cheta were wet and the vocal system for our ship was broken. Oh how would we have our sing-alongs and dance parties during the long hours in which we traveled from town to town?! Have no fear! Our leader’s motto/most said saying is “I can fix this!” and so he did. He healed the vocal cords of the bus and that evening we had a noise record breaking dance/sing-along party. It was a fine day in the realm of team 2’s world and all was well in their part of the universe.

 

 

Taken from this blog story informational piece should be that team 2 is awesome. And BC is best experienced the same way as life; driving through it and seeing it all from a close up distance. Also please realize that we do not intake any substances that will affect our wellbeing and are thus known as illegal.

The end.  

Beth, LiveDifferent Academy Student, Fall 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: November 26th, 2013

Hit the Road

Well the time has come to hit the road and we’ve sure had a crazy few weeks on tour so far! There have been many long days of driving and getting up early but it has been worth it. Team 1 has ventured from Northern Ontario to Manitoba and back already, but after a quick stop back in Southern Ontario, we will be doing the east coast of Canada! This means going to Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick.
 
 
It is so cool to be able to travel across Canada and see our great country. Along the way we have stayed at billet’s houses and they have been so kind and generous to let us stay in their homes. We appreciate it so much and are very thankful for their hospitality – especially for there amazing home cooked meals – it has been such a treat to not have to buy groceries and make supper for myself. Also we are always being entertained whether it is going on hiking trips, hay bale climbing, quading, hot tubbing, movies, or games. Probably my favourite part of billeting at people’s houses is getting to know them and having good conversations.
 
 
We have had a lot of amazing shows and have had some great feedback from students and teachers. It is awesome to see that we are making an impact in schools and motivating students to get involved. Our team has been working very hard and it is really showing, we were able to finish set up in 40 minutes at a school. It was our best set up time yet! I am so proud of my team and couldn’t feel luckier to be able to spend the next three months with them. Over a very short period of time we have all become very close and comfortable with each other and it is awesome.
 
 
I have had the opportunity to have some great conversations with students. There were some times when I would have students coming up to me almost in tears and thanking me for sharing my story and saying how they related to it. I feel so honoured and privileged to be able to share my story on stage, and when I see how my story can impact people’s lives and give them hope to be able to get through their issues and know that they are not alone. It motivates me everyday to spread the message about kindness and how it has the effect to change people’s lives. I am also learning so much about myself as I take this 9 month journey and I am excited to see what kind of person I will be at the end of it. It is such an amazing experience and I couldn’t feel more happier or blessed to be a part of LiveDifferent. 
 
Taylor – LiveDifferent Academy Student, Fall 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: October 23rd, 2013

There’s one “Chelsea” in every crowd

After going on my first Hero Holiday in 2011 to the Dominican Republic, I realized on that trip that my passion was to bring change to the lives of others. Now being blessed enough to be a student in LiveDifferent Academy and getting to make a change in a different person’s life everyday – it is the best feeling. LiveDifferent Academy is an eight month experience of personal growth and spreading love. Four months are spent touring across Canada, West or East coast, doing motivational presentations in high schools. Being an East Coast girl, I’m ecstatic to be touring the West Coast. We’re one month into our touring so far and it’s been an amazing one for sure. 
 
 
Nervous, scared, intimidated, or excited: the emotion for me doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I can try and touch at least one kid’s heart or mind, and that there’s bound to be one “Chelsea” in every audience. Even if it feels like no one listened, or I messed up my story, there’s hopefully going to be that one person that listened. The feeling that comes with a show ending is an interesting feeling. I’m so proud of my team for nailing another show- “NAILED IT” as we say! There is also the feeling of nervous anticipation as students approach you to discuss the show, whether it be about how much they loved the band or the lights, it doesn’t matter what we talk about, but my absolute favourite moment after a show is when that one “Chelsea” comes up to me after the show and says she/he can relate to my story. Even now after having grown up a bit and knowing that I’m not alone with my feelings of self consciousness or feeling alone, it’s still very nice and reassuring when someone says they know how you feel. I hope that with me sharing my personal story of struggles in junior high, that I can make sure students know that they are not alone, whatsoever. 
 
 
Even if I’m having a hard day on the road from lack of sleep or feeling sick, it’s never that bad of a day because I’m surrounded by an amazing group of friends that I’m travelling with and being with students everyday that think I’m a total rock star for sharing my story on stage. They think I’m the rock star, but honestly, they are. The fact that they have the courage to come up and talk to me, (a complete stranger to them), about all the things happening in their life, is really a heart warming feeling. 
 
 
I remember watching LiveDifferent presentations for a few year when I was still in High School, and always thinking about how admirable these people on stage were. The fact that I now get to be that person, bringing happiness to the lives of others by inserting hope for the future is honestly the best feeling I’ve ever experienced in my short nineteen years. Some may think it’s a selfish thing, basing your own happiness off of making others feeling good, but to me I would try and make these people happy even if it wasn’t making me feel happy. If we as a LiveDifferent team get to affect people’s lives every day and bring some happiness and put a smile on at least one face a day, then we’ve done our job, whether it is with my super bad jokes or the simple fact that they now have the reassurance that everyone has their own struggles. Those struggles don’t have to define us, they can shape us into the people we are, by making us the best humans we can possibly be. There’s one “Chelsea” in every crowd, and I hope with all my heart I can put a smile on their face.
 
– Chelsea, LiveDifferent Academy Student, Fall 2013
 
 

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: October 15th, 2013

Hakuna Matata

“Nahhhhh sevenia! Mama ditzy baba!” 
 
The iconic song from The Lion King blares from the speakers as I watch my team members and myself do an over-the-top rendition of it on the screen. Kids giggle in their seats as my crew joyfully sings along. 
 
Strange? Nah, it’s just another day on tour. It’s been just over a month since I began my wicked adventure as a LiveDifferent Academy student. I’m lucky enough to be travelling across Western Canada with my amazing team. Made up of two inspirational team leaders, four hilarious students, and three talented band members, I can’t image a more perfect team. Together, we tour high schools and middle schools across the nation in our makeshift tour bus, Black Cheddah. We aim to inspire a life of kindness and purpose in every kid that we meet.
 
 
One of my favorite things about tour is getting to connect with the students at the schools. At least one person from the team has a heart-to-heart with a student after each show. Kids relate to the stories told during the presentation and confide in us their deepest fears. We let them know that they are not alone in their struggles and that it does get better. We’ve actually had a student thank our entire team for completely changing her life. There is absolutely no better feeling than knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. 
 
Sometimes we’re treated like total rock stars. We’re flocked by kids holding up pamphlets and challenge cards to autograph. I feel honored and kind of flattered that they choose us as a role model. However, no matter what the response of the crowd is, we always leave the school feeling fulfilled and accomplished.
 
 
I don’t think I’ll ever forget our thirty-nine hour drive to Saskatchewan. Picture nine people spending thirty-nine hours in half of a school bus. There was so much that could have gone wrong, so many ways to get on people’s nerves, but the ride was feud-free. We laughed, we danced, and more importantly, we stuffed our faces with our eleven-pound jar of Nutella. 
 
I remember turning off my music and taking a moment to soak it all in. No one was talking to each other, but there was still a sense of community in the air. The sun glinted off the golden fields and fluffy clouds littered the blue sky. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of home, and in that moment, I just knew that this is what I am meant to do.
 
 
Looking back, I realize that I didn’t have a clue as to what I was getting myself into. Luckily for me, this adventure has turned out greater than I ever could have imagined. In just this short amount of time, I have already noticed subtle changes in my outlook. As much as I will make a difference in other people’s lives, I think the biggest change I will see is in myself. Like the Saskatchewan horizon, my opportunities are endless. 
 
 
Hakuna Matata. I can’t help but be reminded of the familiar phrase as I stare out to the setting sun. Reds, yellows, oranges, and purples melt together, forming a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Unlike anything I’ve seen before, I sit there mesmerized. My friends laugh at me, and with a knowing smile, tell me that it only gets better from here.
 
Meagan – LiveDifferent Academy Student, Fall 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: October 8th, 2013

This is It!

Overture, curtains, and lights – this is it the night of nights. No more rehearsing and nursing our parts for we know every part by heart – at least we hope!

It’s been 2 weeks since Thomson and I bounded into the Magill house here in Hamilton and what a couple of weeks it has been. There are 13 Academy students (all girls) along with three road team assistants (2 girls, 1 boy), and two bands (6 boys). If you lost count that’s 22 people in total. We have 2 kitchens and 3 bathrooms, which makes the morning routine quite an interesting one. All of the Academy students are amazing women from right across the country and together we make a really dynamic team of young people ready to create change.

Our first night together before we tackle the grocery store

The staff here in Hamilton didn’t wait to start to get us involved in everything LiveDifferent. On the first day together we were teamed up and put to the challenge of an epic photo scavenger hunt. Throughout the afternoon we ran around the downtown of Hamilton looking to make new friends, dance the hokey pokey with children, and complete random acts of kindness. We made complete fools of ourselves but it was an amazing time and a great way to be introduced to all the culture Hamilton has to offer.

Scavenger hunt item – fit all your team members under a bench

Later in the week the co-founder of LiveDifferent, Christal Earle, sat all of us down and encouraged each of us to share what life event had brought us to this program. After crying our way through almost two jumbo boxes of Kleenex we had all spilt our guts. You could tell very quickly the dynamic of the group change – these ladies were no longer friends, they were family. No matter what each of us had or hadn’t been through we all came together to support, encourage, and empathize. No one was left out, no one felt alone. It was a tough day but we got through it – together.

Working on stories with the ladies.

Most of my time over the past two weeks has been spent at a local church in Burlington that used to be a popular nightclub. Although it’s a little rough around the edges it has become our second home here. We spend hours each day setting up and tearing down stage sets, learning all the parts the make up a show, and practicing speeches. All of the storytellers have written and memorized their story and the show is looking amazing. Jamie, Johnny, and staff have worked really hard on all the videos that are in this year’s production and they have all turned out really great. I can’t wait to get the students’ reaction to them on Tuesday (that’s right – we start our GTA tour on Tuesday). I’ve been amazed and impressed these past few days as I’ve watched my fellow students really strive towards excellence and because of that make huge leaps and bounds in everything that they’re doing.

Our stage all set up ready to begin rehearsal.

As I sit here tonight listening to kids play in the backyard next door, the chatter of giggly girls from downstairs, and airplanes overhead, I can’t help but feel different then I did when I sat on my own back deck in Barrie just two weeks ago. With the help and support of these girls I’ve gained the courage to share publicly parts of my story that I have spoken to very few people about. I think for the first time in a long time I’m starting to recognize why I was put on this earth and that there is much more to my story.

Last night with the Mexico girls at a local hangout spot

Stay tuned for so many more exciting adventures!

XOXO

Michelle & Thomson – LiveDifferent Academy Volunteer and Awesome Seeing-Eye Dog, Team 1, Fall 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: September 10th, 2013

Coffee, Rock Stars, and Thrift Stores

 

Recently, our wonderful cross country journey has brought us to a little town called Winkler, in Manitoba. Winkler is your average small town, with plenty of friendly people and fun things to do – except that this specific small town created an environment for one of the most amazing weekends that I’ve had on this tour. Throughout my experience on tour we have met some of the most inspirational and heart warming people, yet for some odd reason a large amount of those people seem to have been pooled together in this little town in Manitoba.
 
 
What brought us to Winkler was a man called Hebb, a friend of Mosely, the band currently touring with us, who went out of his way to book this absolutely amazing show around our schedule in order to allow Mosely to play at his youth event. The night of the show, consisting of two local bands and Mosley, kicked off our epic weekend! I see Mosely play almost every single day in front of students in countless schools, but I had never seen them do something like this. They chose the song order, they practiced for hours and hours, and this was 100% them. It was honestly beautiful to see something that they put so much time into finally come to life. The whole time they were on stage I couldn’t stop smiling, and I had this overwhelming feeling of pure joy. I felt so thankful to have such a truly talented and hardworking group of people travelling with me, and even if I told them every single day it would never be enough.
 
 
The next day started off with an awesome breakfast made by Hebb, which involved a lot of bacon! It was the first morning in a really long time that we got to sit down, with no plans for the day, no time crunch, and just enjoy ourselves with some new friends. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to have no place to be, and nothing to be doing. It was wonderful to spend a day hanging out at a local coffee shop and fooling around at a thrift store. There is something so freeing about being able to spend long periods of time getting to know people, and doing things that aren’t really productive but are so satisfying. During the tour we meet new people everyday, yet sadly sometimes we don’t get to spend long periods of time getting to truly know them and that’s unfortunate. Luckily on this weekend we got to know this group of epic people and spend time together! It reminded me of the value of a casual conversation, the wonderful feeling you get when you meet people who share common interests with you, and the importance of once and a while not having any responsibility and getting to just hang out and be yourself.
 
 
I want to thank the people of Winkler for giving our team amazing memories that we will never forget. Thank you for taking us in and showing us your little bit of Canada; thank you for allowing us to have a weekend without worries and reminding me how beautiful it can be to do nothing. Thank you for sharing your stories and lives with us, and lastly thank you all for being amazing human beings.
 
Brigitte, LiveDifferent Academy Student, 2012/2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: May 9th, 2013

Scooby-Doo: The Adventures of Bell Island

Remember waking up early Saturday morning as a kid and running downstairs to turn on Scooby-Doo cartoons? We always thought the gang’s crazy and creepy experiences were amusing…until recently when our team got to experience a real-life episode of Scooby-Doo.

Our adventure took place on Bell Island, which is a small island 20 minutes off the coast of Newfoundland. The plan was to spend the night at St. Michaels Regional School on Bell Island and perform in the morning. After a bumpy ferry ride and a long trek up a steep hill, we made it to the school. Upon arriving there, we were fed a potluck dinner and enjoyed talking to the Vice Principal who began to explain life on Bell Island. One topic led to another and soon enough the topic of haunted houses came up to which she replied, “You know this school is actually haunted.” We all laughed thinking she was just yanking our chain, but as she began to describe in great detail the rolling pail of the ghost janitor, the random pencil sharpeners, and the children’s voices in the back corner of the gym, we realized she was serious and that the school was indeed haunted.
 
 
Now, I am not brave by many definitions, in fact I quite openly confess that I am a huge “scardy-cat”. So you can imagine my feelings towards staying in a haunted school overnight. The girls decided to bunk in the computer lab for the night because it was supposed to be ‘the least haunted’ room in the school. I hoped that I would pass out fast enough that I wouldn’t hear any of the spooky sounds….but much like in Scooby-Doo, you can’t escape the unusual activities! At roughly 12 AM, as we were all snuggled up in our beds, each computer mysteriously turned on, one after the other. We all freaked out! Throughout the night, the computers would mysteriously turn on and off in perfect synchronization. Needless to say, we couldn’t figure out what was causing it, and no one slept well that night. I woke up the next morning exhausted and honestly just wanting to get the day over with. We performed the show in front of 170 students ranging from grades 7-12. They seemed to respond well to the show, but the full extent of our presence was relevant after the show when we got to talk to them.
 
 
We found the students of St. Michaels to be extremely friendly and got into easy conversation. Every person I met greeted me with huge smiles and enthusiasm. I got to met students from all grades and ages and loved talking to each of them as topics ranged from the presentation to Hero Holiday to life on Bell Island to NHL teams. It amazes me how such different people from such different walks in life can form such bonds. It’s as if our differences is what makes us fit so well with each other. In high school I never ventured far outside my group of friends, I didn’t think I could find friendship with people so obviously different from me. This tour has showed me that quite the opposite is true. Audre Lorde said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” At St. Michaels, I saw this truth unfold before my eyes. We had all made such amazing connections with numerous students that the whole team was reluctant to leave!
 
What started out as a scary situation turned into an inspiring day with amazing people. I never would have thought that the best day would be in a haunted school on Bell Island. I will never forget this incredible experience!
 
Jenna – LiveDifferent Academy Student, Team 1, 2013

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: April 2nd, 2013

Cauliflower & Real Talks

I found out that I was allergic to cauliflower the hard way and up-chucked my entire dinner in a mall parking lot tonight. I can’t sleep, so I’m hanging out with my brother, Mike, and having some “real talks”. Real talks are the down to earth, nitty gritty, feelings, life and all that kind of conversation – generally reserved for family and close friends.

I am lucky in the sense that I do get to be on the road with my band (Mosely), because they are my family. Mike is literally my family, but I’ve known Mat for about 10 years now. And though Tom is new to the picture, we’ve toured together twice before, and we’ve all become fast-friends, so we are all familiar with my “real talks” and how they make you stay up and think about things.

Even though I have so many people I love with me, I do still miss home. But every day I remind myself why I am doing this and when I take that moment I realize that I am loving so much about being on the road, and I have this incredible opportunity to impact people’s lives! I’ve had young guys and girls come up and tell me that they have been through some really horrible stuff, but that seeing our presentation and hearing our stories has given them hope. They tell me that they no longer feel like they’re alone in their situation. 
I have been there, too. 

I remember quite vividly coming home from middle school in tears after being taunted for not wearing the right clothes or for being the weird kid, which was actually because I took an interest in art. It wasn’t “cool” to be the artsy kid. I am so thankful that I was never successful in my attempts to end the pain that my school mates inflicted on me with their harsh words. Instead, I endured it. My mom and dad played a big role in that, they always encouraged me to stay true to myself, but I can’t ignore the way my little brother helped me. Mike was going through the same things I was, but he still looked up to me. He thought I was a pretty cool big sister, and that I was really popular. I don’t know how he got that idea in his head, but it made me want to fight for him. I couldn’t let him continue to be bullied the way I had been, I had to show him that it was okay to be yourself, and even more so… I had to be there. I needed to stick around for him and for me. So, when I hear that these students are being impacted by our presentations, and that their perspectives are being changed, and they’re starting to realize their worth and their purpose, I am inspired to continue to do what I do.

Thanks to my little brother and my amazing family, I went on to do great things; I graduated from an amazing arts high school, I got a diploma in Broadcast Television, I realized my love for music and started a band that I am truly proud of. I also continue to be interested in and pursue art, because that’s what makes me come alive. This tour has made me come alive in ways I was not aware even existed, and I am so truly thankful for it, all the amazing adventures, experiences and all the “real talks” it has allowed me to partake in.

Dani – Lead Singer of Mosely, LiveDifferent Team Two, Spring 2013
 

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: March 26th, 2013

Making Music and Making a Difference

My name is Philip, and I’m the lead singer/guitarist of Quebec rock trio The Sound Approach. For the next four months, I will also be a member of Team 1 of LiveDifferent’s motivational productions division, which means I will be going from Ontario to Newfoundland (and everywhere in between), spreading a message of purpose and hope in Canadian high schools. So, only a few weeks & half a dozen shows into the experience, what are my first impressions? Here are some thoughts.

 
LiveDifferent is about being a part of something bigger, about being connected with the world. Just like making music. Music is universal, because it’s part of the universal human experience. As a band, we have always strived to ‘musically’ tap into that experience, to connect with people at an intimate level, and then use that connection to be an uplifting force, (I’m no fan of negative or hateful music). Making music involves drawing on your own life experiences and emotions, only to find that everyone around you is experiencing the same things but in a million different ways. Ever heard a song, and you could swear it was written about you or what you’re going through? I love music.
 
 
But where music is often but a form of art, LiveDifferent is a form of action. I took a semester off from university, (with only 10 credits remaining in my degree), missed out on graduating with the rest of my class, left my wonderful girlfriend behind for four months, and for what? It’s not for the pay, (we sign up on a volunteer basis)! Long days rehearsing, early mornings galore, eight hours of work and travel for a one-hour show, setting up and tearing down and loading up and tearing down the same stage day after day, and for what? Well, I’ll tell you. It’s for the sake of making a difference, of being a part of a movement that actually changes lives every day. The impact is real. LiveDifferent gives ME the opportunity to contribute to this greater cause, not just as a band or a musician, but as a person, as a human.
 
 
I went to high school, I know how impossibly crucial those years are when it comes to self-esteem, finding one’s identity, fitting in, relationships, etc. To be able to be a part of these presentations, which are expertly produced, well-delivered, moving, and hilarious all at the same time, and to bring them to students in their very own school, is such an awesome experience. The presentations recognize exactly where students are, and offer them inspiring messages of encouragement and hope.
 
 
You might have noticed that I haven’t been talking about myself or the band that much, and that’s because we’re not the main focus here!! We fix our eyes on the greater purpose, and we are honoured to use the gifts we have in order to contribute to this movement. Just as every person has value and purpose, every person on our team has an invaluable and important role and I am grateful for each of them. I urge all of you to strive to be part of something bigger than your own experience, it’s incredibly fulfilling!
 
The Sound Approach, as a band, as musicians, as people, will do all we can to stay true to this cause and to make the best of every minute.
 
PEACE OUT!
 
Philip, LiveDifferent Team 1, Spring 2013
 
www.thesoundapproach.ca

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: March 7th, 2013