Mission, Texas- Mission Collegiate High School (MCHS) teacher, Jesus Montemayor said he wanted to take a different approach to observing and honor veterans this past Veterans Day. He wanted to do something more personal and impactful. That is how he came upon the idea of doing a panel discussion style event after school this past Monday, in the library, as a part of the Roh Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.
Montemayor invited four local military veterans to serve as the panelists. Almost 40 students came, prepared with questions they wanted to ask the veterans about their time in the military and their lives/careers after military service. Montemayor said the discussions went well past the prepared questions and the original time set for the gathering.
The veterans shared a lot about their time in the service, how they felt it benefited them, and lessons they learned along the way. One of the key messages Montemayor said students received was to never sell themselves short, that they can do more than they likely give themselves credit for.
Montemayor said the veterans enjoyed the personal sharing in the smaller setting as did the students, based upon how engaged they were and the fact that the event lasted longer than originally planned.