On Wednesday morning during Lower School Assembly, students gathered in the Lowell Center to welcome Bryan Skavnak, founder of Be the Nice Kid. Bryan is a speaker and storyteller who inspires young people to be kind with positivity, inspiration, and his many funny and heartfelt real-life stories. Bryan is also a golf pro who teaches kids and adults and is the author of Happy Golf Starts Here and Be Nice. The End.
Bryan began by asking the audience, “Do you see my Shirt?”, a black shirt that read, “Be The Nice Kid”. He then went on to explain that for him, being the nice kid is a lot of little things, like opening the door for someone, listening to others, helping a friend, and smiling at people, and emphasized that “all of these little things build up, and if you start with just a little thing, they soon get bigger and bigger, and make a big thing!”
Bryan shared multiple real-life funny stories, which focused on common themes of compromise, perseverance and kindness. As he concluded his time with the Lower School, he gave the students a challenge: “Say one nice thing to someone and do one nice thing today! And, if you can do more, even better!”
After the Lower School Assembly, each grade level had a class visit from Bryan where he shared his message of kindness and inclusion. During his visit with the Second Grade students, he shared a funny story about how, as a young boy, he lost a game of tic-tac-toe with a chicken, (yes, a chicken!), and how he learned that no matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game— and treat others— that matters.
During his time with the middle schoolers, Bryan expressed that as the older students at DCD, the middle schoolers have the amazing opportunity to set great examples for the younger students, and how a simple smile or high-five can really brighten someone’s day. He went on to emphasize that by choosing to be the one that leads and setting a good example, “that’s the stuff that really matters”, and posed the question, “what can you do to lead, and be a great example for the Lower School?”
Bryan concluded his visit with the important reminder: “Be gentle with people, give them the benefit of the doubt, and take a moment to make someone smile, and in reference to his book, Be nice. The End.”
Thank you to the Parent Association for providing this incredible opportunity for our DCD students and recognizing the power and importance of inspiring kindness!
