Home Background Testimonials Student Programs Adult Programs Video Clips Recent Clients In The News On The Farm Contact Information	Getting Real Matt and Andrea Lohr reach Stonewall Jackson students through humor Matt Lohr, center, acts out a skit with his wife, Andrea, and Stonewall Jackson High School principal Mike Dorman during the Lohrs' motivational talk "Getting Real," which was presented to the junior and senior classes on Friday. Photo by Rich Cooley/Daily By Elizabeth Wilkerson -- Daily Staff Writer QUICKSBURG — The laughter, applause and even silence of the students in Stonewall Jackson High School's old gymnasium Friday morning was almost deafening at times. Motivational speakers Matt and Andrea Lohr were on hand to share with the students a message — along with a healthy does of humor and some audience participation — about the power of attitude. "We try to mix in a lot of humor," said Matt Lohr, who is currently serving his second term in Virginia's House of Delegates. The pair spoke to the freshmen and sophomores and the juniors and seniors in separate assemblies Friday. The Lohrs, who are former middle school teachers, started New Directions Communications, a motivational speaking business, in 1996, he said. When they aren't farming, they travel around the country giving two or three such talks each month, he said. For the last several years, the duo has spoken at Strasburg High School, where Mike Dorman served as principal until becoming Stonewall Jackson's principal this year. Lohr said Dorman was his mentor when he taught at North Fork Middle School. Dorman is "really good about getting the kids involved," Lohr said. After Lohr opened the assembly with a story and several questions that drew healthy cheers from the audience, Mrs. Lohr said she wanted to challenge the students to "really think about what we talk to you about." "Don't do high school ... the same way every single day," Mrs. Lohr said. "Really try to be open minded this year. ... We want you to try some new ideas and to think about how you can be a leader." Lohr said "attitude is one of the most important things we're all given." "Every single day we're faced with choices and decisions," he said. Ultimately, Mrs. Lohr said, the decision to have a positive or negative attitude is "in your hands." When speaking to smaller groups, she said, the Lohrs often play a game in which they hand out letters of the alphabet and have participants see how many words they can help form. Whether they play the game with students or adults, one of the first things she hears people say is, "This isn't fair," because they've been dealt a hard letter, she said. "Life sometimes doesn't seem fair," she said. "In life, we're dealt a letter. ... I'm not here to say everything is gonna be a perfect letter and easy. ... It's what you're gonna do with it." In 2006, Mrs. Lohr said, she felt like someone had handed her a "Q" when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She said she could have had a really bad attitude, but she chose to be as positive as she could be. A positive attitude is about "trying to go beyond what we can see right now," she said. She encouraged the students to think about how they could make a difference and to try to build people up. "All of you out there should have a passion for something," she said. Jose Garcia, a 16-year-old junior, said he thought the presentation was funny, and he felt motivated to "try harder" and "keep it up and do better" as he prepares for college. Meghan Lutz, a 17-year-old senior, said she thought the Lohrs had a very good message. "I think it makes everyone more aware of how a person can have an impact on everyone else," she said. "I just think everyone should start concentrating on the positive things in life." Dorman said "the kids respond well" to the talk and to Lohr, who is "a down-to-earth guy." He said he thought the talk was "real" for a lot of the students. "I know quite a few of them who can relate to it," he said. The talk was a good way for the school to get together as a student body and build some unity at the same time, he said. * Contact Elizabeth Wilkerson at ewilkerson@nvdaily.com September 13, 2008 Motivational speaker Andrea Lohr performs this skit with Stonewall Jackson High School principal Mike Dorman during the Lohrs' presentation to the juniors and seniors entitled "Getting Real" Friday morning. Photo by Rich Cooley/Daily Matt Lohr plays the role of screen director during the Lohrs' motivational talk "Getting Real" at Stonewall Jackson High School on Friday. Photo by Rich Cooley/Daily Matt Lohr, center, looks on as Yadiel (Yo Yo) Guzman-Perez, 16, of New Market puts makeup on Lonnie Phillips, left, 17, of Mt. Jackson during a "Getting Real" presentation by the Lohrs at Stonewall Jackson High School Friday morning. Photo by Rich Cooley/Daily Stonewall Jackson High School principal Mike Dorman carries Phillip Hovatter, 17, of Mt. Jackson out of the bleachers while Matt Lohr looks on during the Lohrs' presentation of "Getting Real" on Friday. Photo by Rich Cooley/Daily