MIFFLINBURG, Pa. — Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Yarosh knows his appearance can be somewhat shocking at first, especially to young children. He knew what to expect before speaking to students in the Mifflinburg Area School District.
"In the first 20, 30 seconds, you'll see the comfort level change when they hear me say 'good morning.' They'll be like, 'Oh, that's not what I thought he sounded like,'" Sgt. Yarosh said.
Yarosh was severely burned while serving in Iraq and almost died. He is now a motivational speaker. Yarosh and Tom Murphy make up the duo called Sweethearts and Heroes.
"I'm not standing here right now if it wasn't for the people who entered my life and gave me the hope that I needed to get through really tough stuff. So, we're letting them know what they're capable of, and they can change and save lives," Yarosh said.
Yarosh and Murphy travel to schools all over the country talking to students about bullying and spreading hope. This is the duo's second time in Mifflinburg.
"We see the problems students are dealing with. I don't know what it's like to be them because I'm not them, but I do know what hopelessness feels like," Yarosh said.
Students say they enjoyed the presentation and got a lot out of it.
"I think it was just good for all the students to hear," said senior Lilee Dorman. "Bullying is something we all know of, but nobody really focuses on it enough, and he definitely spread a lot of awareness on it."
"In the end, let them know what heroes are capable of, and they all have the opportunity to be heroes," Yarosh added.
Yarosh and Murphy are spending two days in the Mifflinburg Area School District, talking with students and teachers.