Anyway, one of my favorite audiences is school kids of all ages. Why? Because if you get them young enough, they are not jaded yet to think that things are not possible. (You know what I mean...in later life people start to "settle" in work, in life, in relationships– "okay he's not a prince charming but he does have teeth and an insurance policy!")

Kids however still believe in dreams and have the enthusiasm for life. I love that. I want to make sure they know through example that any dream they have they can attain (no matter how bizarre) as long as they have a passion for it and take massive action to obtain it.

Now because of my enthusiasm kids get a kick out of me...you know the "cool" mom who they saw on TV...oh yeah and she talks really fast too...so I get hired to come into the schools and speak to kids-- kids ranging from third graders to high school students. (I've spoken at colleges as well, but that to me is the cusp of adulthood, and I approach that a bit differently – you know teenagers know everything...just like us adults!)

I've been doing talks for almost ten years at schools for career day, but it wasn't until the last year that I developed this "Nothing is Impossible" talk for kids.

Most of the time the schools don't have a large budget for a speaker, so local or national merchants who want to inspire the youth of tomorrow, will sponsor my talk and have me go into the schools. Other times, if the school has a budget, I work with them.

It works as a win-win situation for all. The kids get a "different kind of speaker", the sponsor gets their product's name mentioned to kids and become associated with education and I get to do what I love and still pay my mortgage.

This past week was one such week. My comedian friend, Coach Tom Whitely works at elementary school PS 14 in Patterson, NJ.
Tom and I have worked together as comics for many years. Last year he bought one of my books and heard me talking about the Titanic adventure. He invited me to go to his school and talk about what I do. It went fantastic, so Tom asked me to do a repeat performance this year, once again speaking to his 3rd and 4th graders. We worked out a deal and I happily accepted.

I arrived at the school at 12:30. The first talk was scheduled at 1 PM.
I saw kids with bathroom passes sneaking a look at the set up and heard them whisper, "That's that fast talking lady. She speaks like a billion words a minute." I smiled, "A billion words...geez, my head would explode!" Then again, I do believe my ex-husband thought I spoke a billion words a second when we got into a fight.

Anyway, the PA system was set up. The teachers brought the classrooms down and the kids sat on the floor in front of me...a captive audience. Tom (or Professor Whitely) introduced me.

I smiled..."Professor Whitely...impressive" I had to take mental note not to call him Tom in front of the kids. They'd have a field day knowing his first name.

Knowing I only had 40 minutes I started right in. Within a few minutes, hands shoot up.

All enthusiastic...(you know with that...you have to answer this question or I'll die...enthusiasm.) I answer two questions then Professor Whitely jumps in and asks them to wait to the end of my talk and then I'll take questions.

I continue. I tell them how I broke the world record, I demonstrate it, and I show them pictures of me in the Ripley's and Guinness Books. They sit there with their mouths open.

Then one kid notices on an adjacent page a guy with hair all over his entire face.

He says, "Is that you too?" I see that he is serious, so I play along, "Yeah, that's me before I shaved!' Sounds of "EWWWW!" echo the room. They quickly catch on that I was joking. The teachers are getting a kick out of their reaction.

I cover as much ground as I can without breaking a new fast talking record. I tell them about my life as a comic, writer and adventurer. I tell them about the climb up Kilimanjaro. About the monkeys and elephants that hide in the bushes (not quite sure how exactly an elephant hides, but they do. I demonstrate behind a column how I think this is possible. The kids laugh.)

I tell them about the bitter cold winds of minus 15 degrees at the top of the mountain.

I explain to them what altitude sickness is, and tell them about the Massai warriors. I tell them about how my son kept saying, "Mom we're gonna die up here!" And how I would tell him "No way Spencer. We are fine. " Then think to myself...."Oh my goodness, we're gonna die up here!"

One kid totally engrossed in the story calla out, "Did you die?" I try not to laugh. "Wait till the end of the story and I'll tell you!" The teachers laugh.

After I tell them the story (and reassure the kid that I lived)...I invite them to tell me what they want to be when they grow up. Hands shoot up. "Fireman", "Pediatrician", "Gospel Singer", "ATV driver"...etc.

Then I explain to them that the main thing in life is to believe that you can be anything on this earth that you want to be, as long as you believe in yourself. I ask them to close their eyes for a second and visualize themselves as that profession. "If your dream is to become a gospel singer, as this young lady wants to be...then picture yourself in front of an audience belting out a song and everyone applauding". I watch as they close their eyes and picture their dreams. Smiles come on their faces.

I tell them how to repel negative remarks from other kids and to never give up on their dreams. I always have so much more to tell them by the time the bell rings (which you can imagine is a lot considering I talk 7 miles and hour).

Both sessions go by quickly. Afterwards they come up to me, wanting to see more pictures, touch the cup from the Titanic, and ask a billion more questions. (Hey if I can talk that fast, they can ask that many questions).

The reward comes when they say, "Wow, You're so cool! You really did these things?" "What's your next adventure?" The teachers are smiling, Tom is giving me the thumbs up, and one little girl comes up and gives me a big hug without saying a word. I just want to melt.

I sign autographs, and tell the kids they can contact me through email if they have any other questions.

I leave the school smiling to myself knowing that even if I change one life...that in itself is a true adventure.

Note: If you would like me to speak at your school, or you would like to sponsor me speaking at a school contact me through my website: francapo.com or email me at FranCNY@aol.com