Bus rides are not where you’d typically expect students to find inspiration. First, most drivers shun away from becoming school drivers for several reasons, among them the notion that students are unmanageable. Also, some school bus drivers may decide to keep things strictly professional by limiting interactions with the students — which is not bad.
However, for one particular route in Pinellas County in Florida, the journey to school is more than just a commute — it’s a daily dose of positivity. Anthony Burgess, a 37-year-old bus driver for Pinellas County Schools, took it upon himself to make the rides to school and back a worthwhile experience. Earlier this year, before the summer holidays, he proposed having every student write their favorite quotes or meaningful one-liners to decorate the bus’s interior.
“I wanted to make it brighter and a fun space, so I was like, ‘Hey, let’s make some quotes,'” Burgess told ABC News. “I wanted the bus to be a positive place for the children and myself.”
Within two months, the bus was full of inspiring messages of change, perseverance, and triumph. These notes and drawings line the bus from the entrance, giving the kids a daily lesson in kindness, thoughtfulness, and positive affirmations.
Encouraging self-expression and self-motivation
Anthony’s idea may not be a grand gesture. Still, it’s meaningful for the students, who draw inspiration from their words and aspirations. He says he only had one demand for the kids: “Most important is I want it to inspire you. I want it to be something that makes sense to you … just as long as it means something to you, and I want you to talk about it and tell me what it means to you.”
One of the kids, Logan Roberts, an eighth grader, shared his experience in an interview with ABC News: “I wrote this message on the bus, by Dr. Mae Jemison, I think: Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” “I got this one up here, this pink one right here, ‘If you can dream, you can do it,’ by Walt Disney,” he added.
Other outstanding quotes include “Your mindset can change everything,” “Don’t let that monster called anxiety control you,” “Prove them wrong,” and “Never give up.”
Anthony Burgess’ favorite quotes
The inspiring bus driver said he doesn’t have a favorite motivational quote because he feels every one of them means something to the author. He was, however, touched that some of the students chose to honor him or wrote things that he tells them on his rides daily.
For example, one note reads: “The world is brighter because you’re a part of it — Mr. Anthony.”
He said he feels happy to change the children’s lives however he can. “What got to me, actually … was when I told them to pick a quote from someone that inspires them. Several of them wrote: ‘Stay awesome — Mr. Anthony.’ They used me, and I didn’t even think that would be a thing. But that was nice.”
Kindness can go a long way
Earlier this year, we saw another story where students united to raise funds for their kind security guard to visit his family in Nigeria, whom he hadn’t seen for years. Like the security guard, Anthony shows us that what seems like a small kind gesture means a lot to others and may impact them in significant, unforeseen ways.
That’s how Anthony sums it up. “I didn’t realize how impactful it would be on these kids,” he concluded. “And they love it. And it’s really neat.” The benefits of generosity and kindness persist even after the act itself.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
