Las Vegas-based magician, John Hamilton believes that each and every child he encounters has the ability to make their dreams come true.
“Each and every one of you can make your dreams come true if you pay attention, work hard, have determination and focus. No one is going to take it away from you,” said Hamilton to an auditorium of about 250 fifth and sixth graders at the Clairton Educational Center.
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| KID LESSONS—Children listen closely to John Hamilton’s life lessons between magic tricks.
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He used magic tricks to drive his life lessons home.
One trick involved Hamilton “turning” a student into a “rabbit” while another trick involved a student clucking like a chicken and “laying” an egg.
Sixth graders Star Ogletree and Justin Davenport enjoyed Hamilton’s magic and message.
“His tricks were great and we liked what he said,” both students said.
Hamilton’s fun, no-nonsense way of teaching kids valuable life lessons is why the Clairton School District wanted to bring Hamilton to town.
“This program was initiated by Dr. Magi Berger, the principal of the elementary school and Dr. Elisabeth A. Ehrlich, assistant superintendent because of what Mr. Hamilton stands for,” said Patti Detwiler, title I parent liaison for the school district.”Bringing any positive message to the students via any means is great. If he reaches one child with his message that’s great.”
Hamilton performed two shows at the school. One for fourth, fifth and sixth graders and another for kindergarten through third grade.
“Clairton had a need for what I stand for. My goal is to spread the word that nothing is impossible for kids if they work with their teachers to prepare themselves for what they want to do,” Hamilton said. “What you believe about yourself, you bring about. Think positive. In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, ‘yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.’”
Hamilton started his “Making Right Choices” school assembly in 1986. Students learn about literacy, reading, diversity, self-esteem, anti-drug, bullying, violence, cigarette smoking and gangs. A graduate of Michigan’s Chavez College of Magic, Hamilton is the first and only African-American to represent the United States in the World Congress of Magic in Brussels, Belgium, and has performed alongside some of the most elite magicians.
Following a distinguished tour of duty as a combat Marine in Vietnam, Hamilton returned to his hometown of Cleveland and worked as a videographer for a local television station. But his love for magic never waned.
He practiced his magic incessantly and gained a following by performing in schools, clubs or anywhere with an audience.
Now the magic man is known in the United States and abroad for his “Magic with a Message” school assembly program.
In each 40-minute assembly, Hamilton tells his own personal story of how he combated stuttering and illiteracy to live his dream of inspiring kids through his magic.
“In school I was slow and I stuttered so people made fun of me. I went to school to learn to talk,” Hamilton told the attentive group of students. “A teacher helped me and your teachers are here to help you.”
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