ODESSA, Texas — Sitting on the auditorium floor, students listened attentively as a man in a wheelchair addressed them about persevering in the face of adversity.
And after becoming paralyzed from the neck down during a football accident in 2000, Joe Beene overcame his share of adversity.
"It really motivated me, I really enjoyed it," sixth-grader Elliott Hilliard said about Beene's speech.
Since his accident, Beene said he has addressed churches, schools and other groups for ten years about overcoming obstacles, something Beene has dealt with personally.
"You can't teach something that you don't live yourself," Beene said. "It's something you learn doing."
But he said it was his first time speaking to children at Burleson Elementary.
"One of the greatest privileges in life is to be able to speak to children," Beene said.
The kids Beene addressed were the Rising Stars, a group of about 100 students spanning fourth, fifth and sixth grades who participate in volunteer activities like recycling, Burleson Elementary principal Lisa Anaya said.
"It's a great example for our students to see that there are tough times and we'll have to overcome them to achieve some goals," Anaya said of Beene's speech to the Rising Stars.
While the monthly speakers who address the Rising Stars are usually related to volunteering, Burleson secretary and longtime friend of Beene's, Gracie Olivas, said she thought his motivational theme was relevant.
"Joe and I have been working together with other children giving them positive messages," Olivas said. "So when I call Joe I know that's what he's going to do, is give positive messages to the kids."
Beene asked the children what they wanted to do with their lives. Some raised their hands and told Beene they wanted to be baseball players, nurses and fashion designers. In turn, Beene asked them what they needed to do to pursue their dreams.
"Y'all are called by God to do great things," Beene said during his speech. He later added that he overcame his own obstacles due to faith in God and Jesus Christ.
But doing great things isn't always easy.
Kids need to work hard and hang out with people who are good influences, Beene said, adding that avoiding negative things like drugs and violence are key.
"Who you hang with is who you become," Beene told his audience.
Beene, who graduated college and is currently employed with Texas Rig Equipment, told the children not to let their circumstances or others' perceptions of them limit their potential.
"He didn't give up," Hilliard said. "And he wanted to come here and show us that we shouldn't give up."
Information from: Odessa American, http://www.oaoa.com