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Tonawanda News - NIAGARA FALLS: Actress Marlee Matlin tells students to follow dreams
For Jenna Kramer it was a dream come true.
The only deaf student in the Niagara Falls School system was sitting in a third floor classroom at the high school Thursday afternoon, just a few feet away from the woman she says has inspired her dreams.
Standing at the front of the room, her hands tucked into the front pockets of jeans and looking right at home, actress Marlee Matlin had the undivided attention of a group of about 50 NFHS students and a group of teachers and administrators.
Accompanied by her interpreter and producing partner, Jack Jason, Matlin told the students never to fear challenges. Filling in for actor Henry Winkler, Matlin told the students he had been her mentor.
Winkler had seen Matlin in Chicago, in a stage production of “Children of a Lesser God.” The play tells the story of a speech teacher who falls in love with a girl in a school for the deaf and the obstacles they face due to their differences.
Afterwards, she went to dinner with Winkler and his wife and asked him if she could become an actress.
“Henry said, ‘Marlee, you can be anything you want to be.’ ” Matlin recalled.
Last week, Winkler was with as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
That prompted Kramer’s mom to tell Matlin her daughter also dreams of being an actress.
“Then do it,” Matlin signed, as she jumped toward Kramer and looked straight at her. “Do it for me. Do it for your mother. Do it for your friends. If you want to act, work at it with all you have.”
She also suggested Kramer, a freshman, get involved with the NFHS drama club. Posing for a picture with Matlin a few minutes later, Kramer was joyful.
“I admire her because she is so successful and I wish I could be as successful as her,” Kramer said. “I just can’t believe I’m meeting her right now.”
Asked about her teen years in school, as a deaf student, Matlin said she was fortunate to be in a school with a large number of deaf students.
“But even though you’re deaf, we’re all the same,” she said. “High school is the best time of your life. It can be hard, but you have to make it fun. Get involved in an as much as you can. Just roll up your sleeves and do as much as you can.”
Matlin was also the keynote speaker, Thursday night, at the Falls School District’s annual Parents & Partners Dinner Celebration. Her close friend Winkler had originally been scheduled to speak, but unforeseen professional commitments for him prompted the switch.
The Parents & Partners event at Niagara Falls High School recognizes volunteers and partners with district schools and has a formal program and a dining component.
Before leaving, to head to the dinner, Matlin urged the students to believe in their dreams.
“I’m a big believer and a big dreamer,” she said. “I don’t give up easily. I put myself out there and if something doesn’t work, I go on to do something else.
For Jenna Kramer it was a dream come true.
The only deaf student in the Niagara Falls School system was sitting in a third floor classroom at the high school Thursday afternoon, just a few feet away from the woman she says has inspired her dreams.
Standing at the front of the room, her hands tucked into the front pockets of jeans and looking right at home, actress Marlee Matlin had the undivided attention of a group of about 50 NFHS students and a group of teachers and administrators.
Accompanied by her interpreter and producing partner, Jack Jason, Matlin told the students never to fear challenges. Filling in for actor Henry Winkler, Matlin told the students he had been her mentor.
Winkler had seen Matlin in Chicago, in a stage production of “Children of a Lesser God.” The play tells the story of a speech teacher who falls in love with a girl in a school for the deaf and the obstacles they face due to their differences.
Afterwards, she went to dinner with Winkler and his wife and asked him if she could become an actress.
“Henry said, ‘Marlee, you can be anything you want to be.’ ” Matlin recalled.
Last week, Winkler was with as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
That prompted Kramer’s mom to tell Matlin her daughter also dreams of being an actress.
“Then do it,” Matlin signed, as she jumped toward Kramer and looked straight at her. “Do it for me. Do it for your mother. Do it for your friends. If you want to act, work at it with all you have.”
She also suggested Kramer, a freshman, get involved with the NFHS drama club. Posing for a picture with Matlin a few minutes later, Kramer was joyful.
“I admire her because she is so successful and I wish I could be as successful as her,” Kramer said. “I just can’t believe I’m meeting her right now.”
Asked about her teen years in school, as a deaf student, Matlin said she was fortunate to be in a school with a large number of deaf students.
“But even though you’re deaf, we’re all the same,” she said. “High school is the best time of your life. It can be hard, but you have to make it fun. Get involved in an as much as you can. Just roll up your sleeves and do as much as you can.”
Matlin was also the keynote speaker, Thursday night, at the Falls School District’s annual Parents & Partners Dinner Celebration. Her close friend Winkler had originally been scheduled to speak, but unforeseen professional commitments for him prompted the switch.
The Parents & Partners event at Niagara Falls High School recognizes volunteers and partners with district schools and has a formal program and a dining component.
Before leaving, to head to the dinner, Matlin urged the students to believe in their dreams.
“I’m a big believer and a big dreamer,” she said. “I don’t give up easily. I put myself out there and if something doesn’t work, I go on to do something else.