Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School welcomes “Different is Awesome” author, speaker

Every student at Weaver Lake: A Science, Math & Technology School had a chance to hear a presentation from author and speaker Ryan Haack on Feb. 21. Haack, who was born with a limb difference, both educated and entertained his young audience in turns as he shared his story, showed off his one-handed athletic skills and engaged in conversation with the students about humanity’s various differences and how to respond when you notice differences in the people around you. 

First, Haack assured his audience that noticing differences is natural and not a bad thing, and he told students that being curious rather than assuming is a great next step after noticing a difference. 

“Sometimes we might see someone who looks a little different than we’re used to, like me, and think that I can’t do certain things,” Haack said. “What I’d rather have you do is be curious instead. Instead of thinking ‘that’s too bad that he can’t play basketball’, you could think ‘I wonder if he likes to play basketball, and if he does, how does he do it?’ Be curious about what they might like and how they do it.”

Haack then read his book, called Different is Awesome, to the students, followed by a chance for them to share ideas on ways to be curious and kind about differences they see in everyday life. 

At the end, the students had a chance to ask Haack a wide variety of questions. Haack shared that, in addition to several athletic pursuits such as baseball and basketball, he also plays the piano, trumpet, trombone and euphonium, and he demonstrated how he shoots a basket and seamlessly transitions from catching a baseball in his glove to throwing the ball.