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KAM & Robin Gelfenbien At Marlboro Middle School

The following was a speech given by Robin Gelfenbien at Marlboro Middle School’s Olweus Kick-Off event on October 7, 2011:

Over the summer I got a call from Kevin Jacobsen, Sr. asking me to participate in Marlboro Middle School’s Olweus Bullying Prevention Kickoff event. Without missing a beat, I said, “Yes! Whatever you and Wanda need, I’m there.”

Then, I learned that I’d be speaking at the middle school where Snooki from “Jersey Shore” attended, and I wondered if I needed to get started on an intense regimen of GTL (gym, tan and laundry). Luckily, that wasn’t a prerequisite, which is wonderful, since I’m as pasty as they come. In fact, I like to say, “I’m the fairest of them all.” J

Having done an anti-bullying assembly before, I had a sense of the audience and their short attention span. (By the way, mine’s not much better. J). In addition to using my sense of humor and interacting with the kids, this time I wanted to make my presentation even more engaging, entertaining and educational by doing the unthinkable – having the kids use their cell phones during the assembly.

This new element was very important to me because kids are not always very comfortable admitting they’re being bullied or bullying someone else. I should know. I kept very quiet about being bullied in high school and college for years. However, by having the kids answer these sensitive questions anonymously with their cell phones, I was hoping to get more honest answers.

Unfortunately, we had some trouble with cell phone reception, so we couldn’t get to some of the more powerful and revealing questions, but we did get to the heart of the issue. When I asked if they thought they had a problem with bullying in their school, the results appeared on the projection screen, and the response from each grade was a resounding, “Yes.”

I was sorry to see that was the case, but relieved to know that the students are clearly aware of the issue. So that it’s not just the faculty and staff who think they need the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, but the students understand the need as well.

So thank you, Marlboro Middle School, for being my guinea pigs with this polling technology. I know it has the potential to be a very powerful tool to educate and create even greater awareness for teachers, faculty, students and staff about what’s really going on in their school.

Thank you also to Wanda and Kevin for their heart-wrenching story about Kam. Kevin Jr.’s video about Kam was so touching and moving, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

By sharing our stories openly and honestly of how we’ve all been affected by bullying, I hope that we at least make someone think before they speak, type or text something cruel and that we inspire those who are being bullied and those who are witnesses to this behavior to stand up and say something. I think this quote says it all.

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become character.

Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.

For more information about Robin Gelfenbien, please visit My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey and her personal website.

Also visit Your News Now for more information about Marlboro Middle School’s Olweus Program Kick-Off.