YES I CAN Project

Tolleson Union High School... the first "YES I CAN" School

Sara Draznin's High School Math Class

In August 2009, Sara Draznin asked if she could have some "YES I CAN" buttons for her students. Sara is a teacher at Tolleson Union High School and she believed they would help motivate her high school math students to do better in class.

While I was happy to provide them to her, I really didn't think they would do much to motivate teenagers... but I was wrong!

Several weeks later, Sara called back and asked if she could have two thousand more buttons. She was hoping to give one to every student at the high school.
What transpired in her classroom far exceeded either of our expectations.

So the arrangements were made and she received two thousand more "YES I CAN" buttons, so every student at Tolleson Union High School could have one.

Below are comments were written by a few of her students regarding what the "YES I CAN" buttons meant to them:

From Mikeia Green:
... every time I'm wearing my pin, I feel like I can really do anything I put my mind to. Sometimes when I'm taking a test in my AP class, I just look at my pin and I don't feel nervous anymore. It's almost like they have a power to them even though I know it's all about believing in myself and the pins are a great reminder to help me remember that.

From Julio Lopez:
I would like to thank you for the pins! They really motivate me to do my work and make me want to learn more about math. Every time I look at the pin it puts a smile on my face and brightens up my day and motivates me to do my best...

From Denise Erives:
I am a senior at Tolleson Union High School. TUHS has a rule that we cannot wear shirts with writing on them. Some times I wake up and feel like I want to wear a shirt that says "Yes I Can" or something else, but I can't so instead I wear a button. People seem to notice buttons more than anything written on things and then ask "you can do what?" and you answer feeling good about yourself "yes I can do anything!"

From Humberto Quinonez:
... your pins really changed my life. When I feel I cannot move on, I just look at the "Yes I Can" and it motivates me to work harder.

From Quentin Huntley Jr.
I really like the pins. I have like 15 all over my book bag. Everyone always asks me why I have them, and I tell them that I can achieve what I want. Yes I can do it. I can do what I want to do. I look at my book bag and tell myself I can.

2nd period class

Sara Draznin's High School Math Class

3rd period class

Sara Draznin's High School Math Class

4th period class

March 1, 2010
This morning I had the pleasure of speaking to the students in three of Sara Draznin's classes, at Tolleson Union High School and they gave me valuable feedback about how the "YES I CAN" buttons they were given seven months ago had inspired them.

Afterwards, I also had the opportunity to speak to several of them, one on one, and heard about their dreams for the future.

I let Sara's students know that they truly are pioneers in the "YES I CAN" Project; and one day, when the "YES I CAN" Project is known worldwide, they will be able to tell their children and grandchildren they were the first class and theirs was the first school to work with the "YES I CAN" Project.

It was a very exciting day for me and I'm happy to have had the opportunity to spend time with them.

So to Sara, her students, and to all the staff and students at Tolleson Union High School, I say thank you.

~ Don Ratliff