He witnessed the deaths of many. He risked his own life. yet, he still stood next to his long term friends. He was there for his wife was killed because she was of a different ethnicity, he jumped out of the car when a little boy was hit by a sniper. This man alone, helped save many lives. Carl Wilkins, now age 50, was the only American who stayed in Rwanda in April of 1994. He was the only American that witnessed the genocide. Global Studies teacher, Alicia Dorosin and 12 of her students attended the presentation that took place at James Logan High School on March 10, 2008. Before the genocide erupted, Wilkins had lived in Rwanda for four years with his two daughters, his son, and wife. Before a week within the genocide, Wilkins' family left Rwanda, he stayed behind caring for his Rwandan friends. "I could not imagine to myself saying to my friends, I'm leaving, I'll be praying for you," Wilkins said. Wilkins showed pictures of his Rwandan friends that he hid in his home. These people would have been killed if he wouldn't have stayed. He recalls many opportunities he had to leave. He remembers troops from the United Nations coming to his house in attempts to evacuate him; however, his decision to stay was firm and almost unquestionable. "It's the power of presence. You don't know what you could do, but you can do so much more than if you're not there," Wilkins said as he explained his many reasons for staying in Rwanda. After hearing him speak of lives he had saved, and of his belief in making a difference, students developed their opinions about Wilkins. "Carl Wilkins is someone anyone can look up to. He's there to help and willing to die for you," Junior Adrianna Colima said. Wilkins incorporated his own philosophies about life during his presentation, which he developed after living through the genocide. He left students who attended with a new perspective towards life. "His presentation was really deep, it made me reflect on my whole life, and want me to become a better person, he really talked from his heart," Junior Ricardo Guerra said. Wilkins' concept of life struck many; they helped students realize the importance of kindness during hard times. "Help doesn't mean giving money or material things, it means be the best you can be and that the smallest act of kindness like giving a piece of bread, or providing shelter saved many lives in Rwanda," said Senior Shelton Curtis. Wilkins lived in Rwanda, it was his home, and his neighbors and friends were just as close to him as family members could be. Just because a genocide occurred, he did not feel like he had to leave. "Just because life is random, doesn't mean my actions have to be random," Wilkins said.