‘The Boy and the Starfish’ is a story about a boy on a beach, throwing starfish back into the water, and reminds us that everyone can make a positive impact on someone through a small act of kindness. It’s about recognizing the value of each individual connection and understanding that, collectively, these moments contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world. This story shows compassion for others, and courage to stand up for what you believe in. We have modified the story to honor Jesse whose compassion and courage saved the lives of nine classmates during the Sandy Hook shooting.
Jesse and the Starfish
Jesse is walking along the beach, picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea. An older person walking the other way comes over to him and asks, “What are you doing?” Jesse simply replies, “Well the tide is gone out and the starfish are stranded on the beach. If I don’t pick them up and throw them back into the water, they’ll die.”
The older person chuckles and says, “I just came from the other way. There are tens of thousands of starfish all over the beach. If you worked all day you wouldn’t make a difference.”
Without pausing Jesse bends down to pick up a starfish and throws it into the water. He turns to the older person, looks them directly in the eyes and says, “I made a difference to that one.”
