Ric Elias is a survivor of the miracle plane landing on the Manhattan River. This is such a traumatic experience that affected every person on that almost-deadly flight in their own way. Elias decided to make the best of it. He said he is now a better person, not perfect but better. He says he was able to look into the future and see what would have happened. How things would have turned out. And he changed his current life to benefit everyone. He says as the plane was lining up with the water, he realized three things; don’t postpone anything in your life, eliminate negative energy and he wished he could see his kids grow-up. That was the one thing in his life that he would change or achieve; he would be a good dad.
So ask yourself, “What would I change in my life?” That question is very hard to sit down and think about because many of us never consider having to change anything. We never think that we need to complete the bucket list that we all have. When students look back in their lives, do you think that they well say that the wished they had gotten number 42 right on the World Geography test? Somehow, I doubt that. Instead they might think that they had wished they had tried out for band or tried to be nicer to that one peer of theirs. But why do we need to have a life or death experience to take a step back and see what was important? We should be able to change that the in the moment. We should not have that retrospect view of the world. We should change events while they happen, not in our minds five years later. This also calls for a change in emphasis in school and education. Teachers should not stress small ideas that seemingly do not relate to any other topics or subjects. They should rid their curriculum of discussion, done, moving on. As an alternative, they should have one flowing idea that relates to every topic, every discussion, and every day of class. They should tells stories, make students laugh, and let students tap into the side of them that can create a piece of art, regardless of whether that masterpiece is a drawing, sculpture or a 100 story building that people will use every day they go to work. 
Elias’s speaking style was perfect for the topic he was discussing. He let you into his mind during the downfall of that airplane. He told you to imagine yourself in that situation and helped you to empathize with him. I remember perfectly where he was seated, 1D, because he incorporated it into his tale and told you why this particular seat was important. If teachers do this, I personally feel that students will not only be more interested in topics and ideas, which will prolong their academic pursuit, but it will also help them to remember those topics and ideas. This can be back up by what Dan Pink is saying in his book, A Whole New Mind. He claims the same idea, that story is a key to successful memory. I have tried to apply this in my life and from what I can tell it is a correct claim, as demonstrated in my remembrance of Elias’s plane seat. Story gives the listener, reader or audience more connection to the tale being told. It connects to the ETHOS side in all of us, right-brained, left-brained, male or female. We feel an emotional connection to the story and want to be able to recall it. Ric Elias has taught me to cherish what I have, think of no regrets, desire attainable things and wish for a better life then make it happen. I can lie in bed and be satisfied with who I am, or at least work toward that goal. Although this is goal may be different for every person who tries to achieve it, there is one thing that all people have in common when trying to reach their goals; they must not let others try to change it or alter it. They should let their dream be true and pure, untouched by negativity and “slight changes.” If they keep their dream, goal or bucket list their own, it will be attainable. It will be achieved.
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