LA CRESCENTA YOUTH REACHES ACROSS GLOBE TO MEET SCHOOL’S COMMUNITY SERVICE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

LA CRESCENTA, CA — In mid-June, 2005, Teddy Zou, 18, of La Crescenta, received recognition, along with Nicolas (Nikki) Dale, 19, of Sylmar, for being the first students to graduate with honors from the Delphi Academy in Lake View Terrace. The honor came as a result of completing a "community project of considerable magnitude that brings betterment to the community." Zou, Dale and sophomore Sarah Malm of Glendale, planned, financed and carried out a project over a 25-day span in April/May to help tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.

The opportunity to move beyond the neighborhoods of LA County came
through Dale's Church, which is headquarters for the Los Angeles Scientology Disaster Response Team. Before going, all three trained in Dianetics counseling techniques to prepare for their work, which would take place in hard-hit cities of Galle and Matara, training
the Sri Lankan people on how to use Scientology Assists and Dianetics techniques to overcome the emotional devastation of loss of family, home and livelihood that had befallen them.

“The trip has definitely changed my view on life,” says Zou, a Science and Technology major who immigrated from China seven years ago, “”It was so interesting to see the Scientologist technology work like magic. Dianetics and Assist technologies are all new to me, so seeing them work on the tsunami victims was fantastic. I realized I had something to give that could finally help them effectively. And, as a result of this trip, I have decided to become a reserved Volunteer Minister so I can help at other disasters as they occur.”


Day in and day out, Zou and his partners led the seminars that taught the Sri Lankans how to shed their despair – sometimes for a handful, sometimes for a crowd. On seminar in Gampaha was attended by fifty teachers and social workers. Many of the seminars took place in the town hall of Galle by invitation of the Mayor. The team said it was because the Mayor liked to see people leave his town hall with smiles on their faces again.

Zou did not leave the island of Delight before making a trek in the dead of night up the seven thousand steps to the top of Adam’s Peak. It is holy place where there is a rock in the shape of a footprint, which legend says is “Adam’s” footprint. The team viewed the sunrise from that high spot creating an indelible image that will always be Sri Lanka for them.

Back in Los Angeles, at his graduation, Zou was introduced with a quote of his choosing. He had picked the words of Confucius. “The teacher will open the door, but you must enter yourself.”