Student helped classmate during tornado
Student helped classmate during tornado
Bryan Ashley Jump was nervous when the school's assistant principal took him and about 200 other students to the central hallway at Rock Ridge Elementary School instead of letting them go home Tuesday afternoon. A tornado had been spotted, and although he was scared, he didn't let that stop him from consoling another student.
"I was nervous, too, because it was my first tornado," said Bryan, who is 9. "But I felt sad because some of my classmates were crying."
Assistant principal Jennifer Lewis said she just happened to be walking by when she heard Bryan talking to student Megan Cates: "Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. Mrs. Lewis isn't going to let anything happen to us," he told the child.
Lewis said Bryan talked to Megan until she felt better and stopped crying and then chatted with her until everyone went home.
"I like helping people," Bryan said. "It makes me feel good to help others."
Because Bryan was so willing to help his classmate, he was awarded an A.J. Rightway card Wednesday by Lewis.
A.J. Rightway is the mascot for character education in Wilson County.
In the school, the awards are given to students who display the behaviors that A.J. Rightway represents, such as helping others, being kind and doing the right thing.
Lewis said when the secretary told her that the tornado was near, she knew it was not a good choice to take the children outside where their parents were waiting in cars to pick them up.
"All I could think about was that I needed to keep all of my babies safe," Lewis said. "The hallway is the safest place in the school. It is in a central location with no windows."
She invited parents into the school also, telling them the school's hallway would be safer than their car.
"The children had been through tornado drills before, but this was the real thing," Lewis said. "So the children were a little nervous, and some of them were crying,"
Lewis said all staff members were working together to help the children feel at ease.
- Posted on May 7, 2009
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In my opinion I think this was really nice helping others is really kind and just like that he's going to have a great life.
I think that was a really nice thing to do during such a major thing like that. I would be very scared too if a tornado was at school since that would be also my first tornado. He deserved that card from the school because that represents alot of character education.
I feel good about helping people too. But this kid is really brave if a tornado came to my school I would cry maybe but this kid was so brave he deserved that award. And the teachers we really good at working togather to kkep eveyone sfe and so no one got killed.
I think this kid was really sweet. Any one would be happy to have a friend like this. It also surprised me that this was his first tornado. If it was me I would not know how to act and how to comfort someone else. This reminds me of my brother and how he tells me that everything will be okay.
I think Bryan was really brave and kind to talk those kids through the tornado. Even though it was his first tornado he really didnt think about himself and only thought of the other people. I hope this story inspires people around the world to not always think about yourselves. But, to think of others as well
I agree with you. Some people only think of themselves and not anybody else. But some people will risk their lives just to help someone.
I was surprised because many nine year olds, when they are in a tornado or something, they tend to cry and to be really scared. But that boy wasn't like that, he even helped someone! I guess some people are braver than I thought. More people should learn from him- don't panic when disaster strikes, be calm and help others be calm.
I would be like all the other students, panicking. But I would be so thankful if some one like him helped me. I feel happy that he got rewarded for being a friend in dark times. I hope that many people will learn from him. If you do something good, you will receive something nice back.
In the future, I think that his classmates will learn- DO NOT PANIC, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE! And that he will continue to do good to his community. Bryan has a very caring heart. After this experience, next time they have a tornado or hurricane, his classmates will learn from this.
I think this is really cool. The students are probably the best at comforting people. That is a really good boy. They have lots of character from what I'm reading.
That was nice a nine year old boy consoling his classmates. I would of been scared and I would not know what to do. I think I would be more scared of what would happened to us. But he has a big heart to share with everybody in his class and make them feel that they are safe.
This is an excellent story. I can't believe how he could do that to someone to comfort them, it was his first tornado!! wow! This reminds me of when the reformers felt the need to help others in the 1800s.