The new year began with heart at Merton Elementary School 💛

The Jackie Fisher Empathy Tour kicked off the new year on a high note with a visit to Merton Elementary School on January 9. More than 160 students from Grades 3 to 6 offered Samara O’Gorman a warm welcome for the first stop of 2026.

As always, O’Gorman jumped right in, inspiring students to follow their passions, be kind to one another, and lead with their hearts. She shared her own experiences of being bullied at their age for being different and expressing herself authentically. “It made me feel really alone inside,” she told the students. “But no matter how many times I was ridiculed, I stayed true to who I was. Believing in yourself, and your friends, is key to becoming a leader.”

The conversation was full of warmth, laughter, and thoughtful moments. When O’Gorman reminded students that you can have more than one passion, “five, six, or seven!” the students enthusiastically shouted back, “Six! Seven!” prompting O’Gorman to laugh, “I walked right into that one!”

During the Q&A, one student asked why she chose Leading with Your Heart as the title of her presentation. O’Gorman’s answer captured the spirit of the morning perfectly: “Leading with your heart means practicing empathy and understanding how someone else is feeling, even if you don’t feel the same way. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

O’Gorman read from her new poetry collection, July’s Return which features one poem for each month of the year. On a dreary rainy and cold day, her thoughts on January delighted the students: January sunshine is a clandestine treat, it’s often a game of hide and seek. She never says hello unless to take a peek.” O’Gorman gifted a copy of July’s Return to the Meron Elementary School library.

With lots of heart in the room, O’Gorman’s visit set a beautiful tone for the year ahead at Merton Elementary. Thanks to Principal Lee, the teachers and all of the students for the warm welcome!