How To Save a Life
Courtesy of Greenup County Schools
There were plenty of teary eyes for Veterans Day this year as Greenup County Schools witnessed a truly amazing full-circle moment. Soldier, Warrant Officer Nekoda “Kody” Banks, returned to his old stomping grounds to help an old teacher who holds a special place in his heart.
That teacher is Brandi Litteral, who is now the principal at Wurtland Middle School. She described Kody to us as “her why” – a shining example of why she does what she does. Today Kody delivered a Veterans Day speech at Wurtland Middle School intertwined with encouragement to students who are facing challenges, as he can relate all too well.
Kody graduated in 2013 after a childhood of hardship — he was in and out of foster care from elementary school through high school. We won’t go into the details he described of his childhood, but one of his “lighter” recollections was of nights when a bottle of water beside him would be frozen solid by morning. Brandi Litteral recalls buying him a nice coat one winter and that, although he would fall asleep sometimes, Kody was a “great kid” who was determined and had a lot of potential.
When we asked him how he remained so determined despite his many serious hardships, Kody said, “I knew I wanted to be better… I didn’t want to fall into what society expected me to be.” Determined might be an understatement, as Ms. Litteral recalls Kody walking and riding bicycles over 4 miles when he had after-school activities. Although she had forgotten, Kody reminded her that she bought him one of those bicycles.
“My teachers at GC were so good to me, but nobody had a bigger influence on me than Ms. Litteral,” Kody said. He added, “I really don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.”
Ms. Litteral spent a lot of energy on Kody in hopes of helping him find a way forward. She self admittedly “pestered him for years” about joining the military. She said she knew it would be a “way out” for Kody, who was a smart and determined young man. Those conversations must have stuck, as he is now a career soldier — a full-time instructor for the Army National Guard who teaches critical skills to military units across the country.
In describing his military career, Kody conveyed so much passion for his task of training units to “save lives”. We did a double take when he described that endeavor as “his Why”. We interrupted — “Did you notice what you just said?” We pointed out the irony that he would use the same phrase, “my why”, that Ms. Litteral used when describing him to us. We realized that we had just witnessed a moment that had come full circle. This old student and teacher whose “why's” are both about working to “save lives” in their own ways.
Kody’s other “why’s” include his wife and daughter. He has built a life to be proud of, which Ms. Litteral made sure to let him know. He went from days when he slept in a cold shed, to having a beautiful family, owning a home, and making a difference in the world.
Today he conveyed his childhood hardships to a gymnasium full of middle school students, and we sincerely mean it when we say that the students leaned in and listened. This Musketeer is continuing to sow the same seeds that were planted for him.
Thank you for returning to GC today, Warrant Officer Banks. We are thankful for your service, for your willingness to give back to the next generation of students… and we are extremely proud of the man you’ve become. Happy Veterans Day, Mister Banks, and all of those who have served.
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