Sakena Yacoobi’s education gave her the opportunity to live comfortably in the United States, but she felt called to educate girls in her homeland despite daunting challenges. Hear about her heroic choice in her own words.
Category Archives: Decisions that Matter
9/11 hero’s actions become a lesson in character
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, shocked the nation but may seem like ancient history because they happened before you were born. The family of one of that day’s countless heroes is working to help today’s students understand the decisions that mattered on that day.
The Real Story of Revere’s Ride
To learn more about Paul Revere’s famous ride, visit this site created by the Paul Revere Memorial Association. Read through the account of what really happened that night, check out the interactive map that tracks Revere’s journey, and read his own account of the events.
Having Too Many Choices Is Making You Unhappy
It’s easier to make a decision you’ll be happy with if you’re choosing among a limited number of options.
Colin Powell
Learn more about the life and decisions of Colin Powell.
The Desegregation of Sturgis High School
What was the first day of school like for the eight African American students who first attended one all-white Kentucky school?
Marie Curie
Read about how the famed scientist Marie Curie made her own path to greatness.
Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Parents do not understand the risks teens take. Scientists say that because the brain is changing and maturing into adulthood, teen brains cause adolescents to behave differently.
WI-Fi-enabled school buses leave no child offline
Superintendent Darryl Adams decided that every student in his California school district would have access to the internet. Read about how he put school buses to work at night to get students connected to their schools.
Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions
Through functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of 40 teens and adults, scientists discovered that teens act differently when with friends than with adults. The study also indicated that teens were more likely to engage in risky behavior with friends. Read why teens make these kinds of decisions.
The Flight 93 National Memorial Park
Flowers and other tributes are still being left at Flight 93 National Memorial Park in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the decision to create this park to commemorate the flight and to honor the passengers.
Biologists Could Soon Resurrect Extinct Species. But Should They?
Many species are endangered and near extinction, but lab scientists could save them. Is it the right thing to do? Read the article and think about what you might decide.
Report on Desegregation in the Schools of Alabama, September 9, 1963
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy announced the government’s intention to force Governor George Wallace to comply with the school desegregation order. Read this powerful speech about a decision that mattered to so many Americans.
Robert Frost’s Christmas Cards
Although these greeting cards started as a way to celebrate the winter season, poet Robert Frost was encouraged to continue them as an annual holiday tradition. Find out which of his famous poems were used as the verses for these unique cards that are collectors’ items today.
Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798
Historical letters sometimes bring to light decisions that mattered. Read this article about Paul Revere’s letter summarizing events on the night of his famous ride.
Decision-Making is Still a Work in Progress for Teenagers
Have parents or teachers ever told you that you’re not old enough to decide? There are differences between adolescent brains and adult brains, so it might be true. Read about the study at the McLean Hospital Brain Imaging Center in Boston, Massachusetts, that used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the activity of teenage brains to that of adults.
What Does It Mean to Cross the Rubicon?
Whether or not to cross the Rubicon was a decision that Roman governor Julius Caesar had to make. Watch the video to find out why his decision was momentous.
Flight 93
On September 11, 2001, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 decided to fight their plane’s hijackers rather than let them keep control of the plane. Read about how their decision changed what might have happened.
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks is well known for her decision not to give up her seat to a white person on a segregated bus during a time when a racist law forced African Americans to do this. Learn more about the life and efforts of this unassuming hero.
Wilma Mankiller, Cherokee Chief and First Woman to Lead Major Tribe, Is Dead at 64
Although she died in 2010, the Cherokee Nation will long remember Wilma Mankiller for her dedication to education, health care, and housing reforms. Find out how her decision to support a protest on Alcatraz Island fostered her leadership and determination to help her community.