Video: 'Living Lessons' Annual Event Inspires Lazar Middle School Students

"Living Lessons: Voices, Visions and Values" is an annual event at that began in 2005. This year, due to budget cuts, the school had to raise funds by applying for grants and holding fundraisers.

On Thursday morning and early afternoon, more than 50 speakers, including 12 holocaust survivors, authors, 9/11 survivors, and even a former Sudanese slave, discussed various topics.

Lazar principal Sharon Carr said that both Judy Gothelf and Derek Lynn, the co-chairs of the event and teachers at the school, were deserving of praise for organizing the event, which Lynn said took the whole year.

"There's so much more outside of Montville that [the students] don't really know about yet," Lynn said. "And when you hear these stories, it kind of opens up your eyes to a lot of things ... they say experience is the best teacher; well they learn about different people's experiences from these stories."

The event took over the entire school, with quotes from famous philosophers, politicians, presidents and writers lining the walls of every hallway. Guests, students, presenters, teachers and administration roamed from presentation to presentation throughout the day.