Today marked my 10th year speaking in schools, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend it than with the incredible students and staff at Meadowlark Christian School.
I spoke to over 400 kids from Grade 1 to 9 about kindness, peer conflict, and bullying—and more importantly, the difference between them. Too often, we label every disagreement or mean moment as bullying, when in reality, most of these situations are peer conflicts that kids can learn to work through. True bullying is serious, repeated, and targeted, and if we call everything bullying, we lose sight of what really needs to be addressed.
That’s why I encourage schools to focus on being kind rather than being “anti-bullying.” When we make the message about bullying, we’re still centering bullying. But when we emphasize kindness, inclusion, and respect, we shift the focus toward what we actually want—kids choosing to be better teammates, better classmates, and better people.
The day ended with an unforgettable moment—Brayden, a Grade 5 student, was the ONLY one out of 400+ kids to sink a shot in the disc golf basket! The whole gym erupted—kids were jumping, cheering, and swarming him in celebration. That’s the kind of energy we need more of—lifting each other up, celebrating each other’s wins, and being a community. Brayden took home a mini frisbee, but the real prize was that epic moment of pure joy.
Huge thanks to the staff and students for making today such a special one. And as a bonus, I got to sign a bunch of autographs on my way out—always a fun way to wrap up a visit!
Let’s keep shifting the conversation. Less anti-bullying, more pro-kindness. Every small act makes a difference.