“There’s Gotta Be a Pony” –
The Team Behind the Movement
“With all this mess… there’s gotta be a pony in here somewhere.”
That line was first shared with me over 30 years ago—at a leadership training in Nashville, during my first summer on a wild adventure that involved knocking on doors 80+ hours a week as a college intern. The speaker, Mort Utley, told the story of two boys:
One, a pessimist, was placed in a room full of candy, toys, and a rocking horse—but he just froze, too afraid to enjoy any of it.
The other, an optimist, was placed in a room full of manure… and he started digging with joy!
When asked why, the boy smiled and said, “With all this mess… there’s gotta be a pony in here somewhere!”
That story has stuck with me ever since. Life is messy. Leadership is messy. And education—especially today—is full of setbacks, unexpected challenges, delays, behaviors, and emotional weight.
But I’ve learned: if you stay in long enough… you’ll find the pony!
For five summers, I had the opportunity to be part of a leadership internship that took me across the country—from Texas to Virginia to North Carolina—meeting families from every walk of life. I ranked in the top 3% of over 3,000 students every year, but the real win wasn’t in the numbers.
The real win was meeting families, hearing life stories from porches and living rooms, and sitting over sweet tea as parents leaned in and said, “I just want more for my kids.”
We weren’t just selling books—we were sharing hope.
And I still believe: every child has the potential to succeed when they’re given the right tools and someone who believes in them.
That belief has fueled Ignite Nation for the past 25+ years.
Today, Ignite is a nationwide movement that equips students with the training, tools, and belief they need to lead their peers, support their schools, and transform school culture from the inside out.
🌟 What Makes Ignite Different?
We don’t just train students — we trust them to lead.
With over 1 million student mentors trained, our system goes beyond inspirational moments. It’s a research-informed, student-led model that aligns with district priorities and delivers real results:
- ✅ Improved student engagement
- 🤝 Stronger peer-to-peer relationships
- 📈 Increased attendance + reduced behavior referrals
- 🎓 Improved academic outcomes
- 🧠 Real-life development of Portrait of a Graduate + 21st-century skills
We launched this year’s training season in two corners of the country — Massachusetts and Texas — physically different in every way. But the heartbeat of the students and staff? Exactly the same.
What unfolded reminded me, once again, why we do this work.
It wasn’t a perfect week. Flights were delayed. One was canceled. I spent a night at the airport. We battled 100-degree weather in the library and a few last-minute curveballs. But none of that defined the week.
What stood out — what always stands out — was how our team and student mentors rose to meet the moment:
- Over 20% more student mentors showed up (during their summer break!)
- Executive mentors led with clarity, ownership, and confidence from day one
- Our coaches, trainers, and college interns modeled what student-led leadership really looks like
- Students began service learning projects around our new theme: International Changemaker
It was a start like no other.
And through it all, my soul was strengthened again — by the sound of student voices in laughter, the courage of young leaders stepping forward, and the deep belief that when given the right tools and trust, students will lead.
So yes—the day might get messy. But if you stay in it long enough, you’ll see what we see every single day:
“There’s gotta be a pony in there somewhere.”
And often, it looks a lot like an unexpected student stepping forward with courage, purpose, and heart.