I love when young people are given the opportunity to live out their passions. When I opened The Islands’ Sounder today and saw that Nikko Naugle, 9-year-old public elementary school student, is going to be a contributor to the paper, I was so thrilled. Thank you, editor Colleen, for helping his dream come true!
I know Nikko in a different capacity. Every now and then when my husband needs an assistant with Running Club, I hop in and experience the myriad (also one of my favorite words, Nikko) personalities of the kids who show up.
Nikko has been running for years now, and I love to pick his brain on deep subjects as we trot down the paths because I know he always has ever-so-thoughtful answers.
Most recently, I asked him what I should do now that my mom has moved off the island and I won’t get to see her much anymore. He said, “You should write letters to her every week. People love getting letters. You could also Facetime with her so you get to see her more.”
We’ve talked about how he’s never eaten meat, how he loves to write for his website, and how he keeps up with his pen pal. He has explained his interviews and his interest in writing for the paper now and then. My favorite thing about our discussions is Nikko’s insight on weighty topics.
Nikko, perhaps you will consider writing an advice column in The Sounder for adults who need a fresh perspective on difficult situations. You would undoubtedly offer sound counsel from your kind heart and wise soul.
Read about Nikko on page 5 and read his article on page 6 in this week’s paper. Check out his website as well, which has interviews with April Pollock of Clever Cow Creamery and Holly Dennis of Harmony Chai. He also has some books in the works!
Way to go, Nikko my friend! You’re living the dream – using your talents, skills, and passions with purpose!
Wave to this conscientious, sweet boy when you see him running along the road. He is a gem.
Nikko – I love how a page on your website says, “If you’re here from a scrap of paper with a URL on it saying nikko.mykajabi.com, then you’re on the right website.” Aside from keeping up with a blog, I, too, am in the midst of writing books. Three very different ones. I’m a very organized person, but whenever I think of something I want to add to one of the books, I write it quickly on a scrap of paper so I won’t forget it and I put it in my writing basket, which I take to the library with me when I write there instead of at home (I don’t own a cell phone, so I can’t make notes for myself in that way). I went through my scraps of paper to find the scrap on which you wrote your website name for me… Ha! Here it is…
Photo of Nikko and Jeff Ludwig courtesy of Nikko/The Islands’ Sounder
