When Brook Peters set out to make his film about living through 9/11 as a child, he didn’t realize THE SECOND DAY would convey a universal story of inner strength and resilience that could inspire people around the world. In response to Brook’s Show Your Strength Campaign, over 150 young people submitted their personal stories of courage and hope. And the band Simple Plan supported the campaign by offering their song “What If”.
Watch the music video below to see how others face life’s challenges, and share the video to inspire people you know. Play it forward by sharing your story.
Award-winning Canadian rock band Simple Plan supported the Show Your Strength Campaign to inspire youth across the globe. “I approached Simple Plan to use the song What If as the soundtrack to the Show Your Strength video because I feel it makes listeners question what they can do to change themselves and, in turn, help to change the world,” said Brook Peters.
HOW TO SHARE YOUR STORY:
Though the music video is completed, we continue to encourage you to share your story or message of inner strength below to inspire others who will view it here.
1. Get a marker and write your personal statement or story about your inner strength on your body (or a piece of paper)
2. Take a photo and submit it below with your message (and remember to read the legalese here).
share your story, change the world
Scroll down to the bottom of this page to SUBMIT BELOW
(and don’t forget to see the film and encourage your teacher or youth group to show it!)
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Strength comes in all different shapes and sizes. You don’t have to be a big tall person to be strong. Strength comes from within. There will always be someone that tells you you can’t do something. Believe in yourself and don’t give up there’s always a light at the end of a dark tunnel. I myself have lost faith and wanted to give up. I have been belittled and picked on. Sometimes i wondered why I was here. I grew up where i had an older sister who was like perfect. She was everything I was not. Sometimes I wished i was her. My parents always talked about her and how great she was and I was just there… I was weak and I found my strength slowly as I grew older. I am a big fan of Simple Plan. They really saved me.
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my mother drinks a lot… in all my life, saw a lot of disgusting things.. once i saved her life and still she didn’t stop drinking. And now i can only say to myself seize the day… :). Now i’m 18 and know that i take my own life path…
Be yourself someone else already excists.
Life isn’t always as easy, and that’s why a lot people change. You shouldn’t because someone else already exists and if you always stay yourself, at the end when things get better, you will be happier than when you changed.
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Hmm… I don’t think I have fully understood the power of inner strength yet. Erm, actually, I don’t think I understand it at all; and I probably will never do… but that’s probably why I found the power that people can have inside themselves really fascinating. For me, it’s just amazing to be able to see how people are able to face their problems and regain happiness all over time. 🙂
And about my life… well, if I’m allowed to tell, I think it’s been wonderful. But, of course, there are always moments when I feel that I have lost my happiness; that I’m simply… lost. During those times, I just seem to forget everything that matters; that I should probably remember.
And by time, I learn that everyone has their own problems and even though they may seem to be unusual or easily-handled in others’ eyes, they turn out to be really hard for their owner. Most of the time, I just feel that mine are not that big, but I seem to be unable to handle them well. I keep feeling that every movement I made will still break other peoples’ hearts, let everyone down, and… I don’t know… it just feels sad when I keep disappointing everyone, especially the ones that I love.
And I know that it might be just in my head; that those people who are really meaningful to me—specifically and especially, my family—are fully forgiving and will always try to accept me for who I am. But, still… the more they love me, the more I love them and the more I don’t want to let them down.
I have tried as hard as I can, I believe. But sometimes, I just feel that… well… I haven’t given my best. So, when happiness comes, I somehow feel that I don’t deserve it. And when I think about it again, I might feel that way because I never think I can share those happiness with other people.
And I also know… that it’s definitely me that create all of the problems I’m struggling with. It’s been a long time since I realize that I create fear for no reason, that I lost my reasons because of myself, that I’m lost… in the walls that I made. I fear that I can never make the ones I love feel as happy as I want them to; and I just keep wishing to have them support me and feel happy about me every single time. Because, when they’re near me, I no longer feel lost. I’m stuffed with something that I really love; that, even though it sometimes only happened in my mind, I already feel that my existence is not forever bothering again.
It sure is amazing how love can help someone to feel better about themselves. But I… honestly, sometimes, after trying my best to convince myself, still feel that I’m not worth it.
But, I always have my cure… Art is definitely something that helps me express myself. I throw my feelings in poetries, fictions, sketches… and I just feel better. And when I went back to them, I just sort of remember how I feel back when I created them. So, whenever I feel that the same sadness hits me again, I looked at some of my creations and they somehow tell me that I can get through the state I’m in right now, just like how I managed to do so in the past.
I also often listen to music that I can relate with; it really helps when I’m too hurt to even write or draw. It just feels less lonely when you know that someone might have similar problems with yours, I guess… A lot of music out there helps me, especially Simple Plan. I thank them for being such an inspiration to a lot of people and, of course, for giving reasons to stay alive. :’)
And I finally hit the state where I realize that being inspired is just… something great. Day by day, I try to learn from people who inspire me and give me things to believe in. Reading all of the responses here definitely makes me feel inspired. So, thank you for inspiring me, guys. I guess the whole point of ‘inspire someone with your story’ from this campaign is really something, hmm? 🙂
Also, by slowly learning to accept my happiness, I lately feel good about myself. All this time, I completely forgot the fact that it’s easier to make someone else happy when you yourself are happy. I’m thankful to have my brother to remind me about that. Well… I know that sometimes I still feel uncomfortable to receive happiness when everybody else seems to be so sad… but I guess I just have to keep working on this—on everything, basically. And hopefully, the world will naturally smile again after a gloomy moment. If there’s anything I can contribute, I think I would be happy to. 😉
So… I guess, after all those rambles, it certainly feels great to let yourself be inspired and have the will to advance further; to wish to be able and try your best to inspire other people, too. And by being grateful for yourself, by letting the happiness in, by letting yourself to love someone… for me, it’s impossible to feel lost forever.
I hope you guys can keep giving your best to get through life; and find someone or basically every single nice thing to help you sweep your sadness and regret away. Once again, I thank you guys for inspiring me and this program for giving people chance to express themselves and be able to… help other people in a way that makes them feel happy, I guess. Heh. I’m so lucky to be able to stumble upon this place. Thank you so much. :’)
And I’m sorry if this whole response is kinda… well… bothers you guys. I can tell you that one of the things that I don’t want to do—and to happen—is making you lose your happiness… So, I hope that doesn’t happen and I’m sorry… ^_^;
And this is… well, I think the way I solve my life’s problems. I hope you guys can find yours. And if we happen to have similar ways, then it’s great to know. :3 Thank you.
And for everyone who’s been so inspiring here, thank you again for sharing your stories, guys. I hope you wouldn’t mind if I sort of keep all of those encouraging words in my mind to help me get back up when I… suppose… feel lost again. Heh.
Lastly, I hope each and every of you can find your happiness. And from now on, I think I’ll just have to keep letting the sun pass through my walls and the rain pour on my soul. :’) Maybe those two things will work for you, too. Heh. I don’t know. But, once again, thank you; and wish the best and good luck on being inspirations, guys. 😉
Sorry for this second response. It seems that my picture isn’t sucessfully submitted before -well, it can’t be found from my browser-. Hope it will now. 🙂 Sorry and thank you, everyone.
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Hey guys I’m just going to write a little bit if possible..
My life isn’t perfect and I’ve lost all confidence basically, there’s a lot of stuff that puts me down and sometimes I hate myself for it but there’s always that little thing that is so simple but yet so amazing and that’s music, it makes me happy even if it’s for 3 minutes, I feel at home.. I just feel like myself. Simple Plan were the first band to help me get through a lot and help me get all the words out through something beautiful, and for that, they’ll always be my favorite band. Other bands have done that too but not as big of an impact as Simple Plan.
Music means so much to me, it gets me through the day.. I guess that’s why I listen to music every single day. I’m obsessed with music, and the bands I love. People think I’m crazy for it, but no one understands me better then my favorite song.
Music saves me everyday.
Stay strong, you can get through anything, you ARE strong, don’t give up the chance to be happy. It gets better, even I’m saying that and I used to say I hate this world and it’s just evil. It isn’t. Just look for the good things, just smile, you’re not alone! 🙂
So many times, I’ve tried, given my best and fell really hard. It was painful, watching someone you love leave, being left behind, giving up on a dream, not being able to help…
Failure is naturally scary, but not challenging at all is scarier for me. I believe strongly in everyone’s right to fail. In its necessity. We learn from pain and loss and mistakes.
Knowing that I can stand up and be someone better, work harder and succeed where I failed … that’s my strength.
i got this from the song perfect, the first time i heard it i was going thru a tough time and i wrote this over everything. now im a confident crazy person and im proud to be different!
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Don’t let people bring you down. Stand up for yourself and believe in the awesome person you are.