"The verses in this book represent my personal affirmations. Through verbally affirming these verses I hope that you will, as my pastor would say, 'Speak life unto your life.' The affirmations contained in this book have been second nature to me. They have represented philosophies of living that have guided my life. The cornerstone of this book, the poem 'Don't Quit' is actually an adaptation of an anonymous poem by the same title that I was introduced to in the second grade at Edmund Burke Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois. My second grade teacher read the poem to the class, and although I forgot many of the words, the title 'Don't Quit,' became embedded in my subconscious. So much so, that during high school, I wrote my version of 'Don't Quit' which has become the guiding philosophy of my life."

Mychal Wynn's critically-acclaimed book of poetry contains 26 poems of inspiration and affirmation. Each verse is complemented by an inspiring quotation.

The reader is led through verses that inspire diligence and determination: Born to Win, There's A New Day Coming, Be The Captain of Your Ship, and Dare.

There are verses about friendship and relationships: If You and I Should Differ, If You are My Friend, A Pledge of Friendship, and A Pledge to Myself.

There are verses about personal faith and self-reflection: The Spirit Within You, Overcoming Darkness, Dignity, Who Are We?, and If We Do Not Try.

Never forget to take the time to nurture the human spirit. Inspiration plus information leads to the application of what we know. Children must be inspired before they can be informed; inspired to learn what they don't know and to dream of where they can go!

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Comments:

When I was an elementary school principal I frequently referred to the poems and quotes in "Don't Quit" when talking to my students about their dreams and aspirations. Now that I am an assistant principal of a high school I find myself holding the same discussions and referring to the same poems with my high school students. All children need to be inspired to discover, pursue, and realize their dreams and aspirations.

Reginald McBride
Assistant Principal
Griffin High School
Griffin, GA

As a classroom teacher I helped my students to understand that while prayer was outlawed at school, inspiration wasn't!

Each Friday, students' received a copy of a quote and poem from "Don't Quit." Their assignment was to take the quotes/poems home and discuss them with their parents. The following week students recited the poems each morning and we discussed the various quotes and poems throughout the week. By the end of the school year all of my students could recite various poems and were eager to discuss what they meant with visitors into our classroom.

I wish that all teachers could understand that when students are inspired they are much more easily informed.

Jean Rollins, Specialist
English Mastery and Closing the Gap Division
Los Angeles Unified Schools
Los Angeles, California