Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND – Worland kindergarten through third-grade students attended the NED's Mindset Mission at the Worland Middle School Auditorium Wednesday afternoon, to follow cardboard NED through a series of adventures that teaches him important life lessons.

Worland East Side Elementary School Principal Chris Peterson stated, "It's another positive interaction with kids as far as for the things we are trying to do at the school, as far as never giving up, encouraging others, doing your best. When you talk about being resilient, the thing that they [NED's Mindset Mission] brought too, the power of yet, especially for our kids just starting out, they don't always get everything the first time around. That's a big deal as far as not giving up."

According to a press release, "In NED's Mindset Mission, a solo performer tells a story about a cartoon boy named NED who is on a very important mission. Led by clues to find to his "mindset," NED overcomes Mt. Everest's toughest obstacles, uncovers inner-treasures on a Caribbean island, and helps a space alien discover there is always more to learn. The show activates the imagination of young students and uses humor, yo-yo and magic tricks, puppetry and storytelling, to share a message about the power of a positive mindset."

At the beginning of the performance the student's learned that NED's name is actually an acronym. The first letter of NED's name means: Never give up. The second letter of his name means: Encourage others and the last letter of his name means: Do your best – always be learning and growing.

When NED must go to Mt. Everest to find a clue that will help him find his mindset, NED meets Yet the Yeti and learns that he should never give up and that even though he might not be able to do something at first, with practice and perseverance he will soon be able to. Yet explains to NED, that when NED says I can't, that NED can't do it yet, but if he doesn't give up, he will soon be able to do it.

Zip lining from Everest to the Caribbean Islands, NED meets a pirate who teaches him how important it is to encourage others to never give up.

Lastly NED finds himself abducted by an alien who teaches NED that just because you think you know something doesn't mean that there isn't more to learn and that a person should always do their best.

The students learned the lessons, because as performer Will Cefalo attempted to do a yo-yo trick, but kept making mistakes at the end of the show, the students kept shouting encouragements, reminding Cefalo that he can't give up and to do his best to accomplish the trick.

"I know the kids remembered as far as the acronym NED and the trip and journey he [NED} took as far as climbing Mt. Everest and the fact that we need to keep trying," Peterson said.