Cartoonist and motivational speaker Duane Abel gave an energetic presentation filled with drawings and anecdotes on Wednesday, Sept. 23, to students at Herkimer Elementary School.
Throughout the assembly, Abel spoke about four words that students should follow if they want to follow their dreams for their futures, and he drew cartoons to go along with the discussion.
“What I hope students take away from this presentation is the fact that they can be and achieve whatever they want as long as they follow those four words of work, study, learn and try,” Abel said, following the assembly.
Abel, who is the cartoonist behind the “ZED” comic strip and has written and appeared in movies, traveled from his home state of Ohio to present his “Draw Your Destiny” assembly twice on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Herkimer Elementary School: first to third grade through fifth grade and then to prekindergarten through second grade.
He shared stories of wanting to be a cartoonist from a young age and how his star character Zed wants to be a singer when he gets older. Abel then asked students what they want to be when they grow up, and students gave responses including doctor, football player, dentist, clown, police officer, firefighter, baker, singer and cartoonist.
Then, Abel went through his “work, study, learn and try” words of advice while drawing accompanying cartoons and telling tales from his life. He also gave away his autographed drawings to students who answered questions correctly.
He told students that he used to get reprimanded in school for talking too much and drawing during class, but that didn’t stop him because he worked, studied, learned and tried.
“I am getting paid right now to do the things I always got in trouble for in school,” Abel said. “That is called: Best. Job. Ever.”
Following the assembly, Abel said he hopes all children at the schools he visits are growing up in nurturing environments, but for those who might not be, he strives to have his assemblies make a difference.
“Hopefully this gives them a little bit of inspiration,” he said.
Cartoonist and motivational speaker Duane Abel talks with Herkimer Central School District students on stage during his “Draw Your Destiny” assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Herkimer Elementary School. The students were on stage for correctly answering questions during the assembly, and they each received an autographed drawing that Abel did during the presentation. The students, from left, are: Lilah Chrisman, Zander Coope, Lilah Fox, William Lindbeg-Felix, Annabelle Curran, Leah Ingraham and Benjamin Lasniak.
The cartoonist behind the “ZED” comic strip, Duane Abel speaks to students during his “Draw Your Destiny” assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Herkimer Elementary School.
