Floral Park-Bellerose School students learned about anti-bullying tactics and the importance of hope and empathy during presentations by Sweethearts & Heroes. The motivational speaking organization educates on the impact of bullying and aims to build compassion through programs, presentations and online courses.
The presentations were led by Sweethearts & Heroes director and co-founder Tom Murphy and retired U.S. Army sergeant Rick Yarosh. For more than 15 years, Sweethearts & Heroes has presented what Murphy calls “‘the ‘stop, drop and roll’ of bullying” to more than two million students in school districts nationwide. The organization’s goal is to inspire students to be “sweethearts and heroes” and to promote bystander empowerment with anti-bullying tools.
Yarosh, who was burned severely while serving in Iraq, spoke to the students about how he overcame his struggles and found hope through a young girl overcoming her initial fear of him and being kind. He also discussed the importance of accepting others’ differences.
Murphy taught the students the ABCs of anti-bullying: bring the person being bullied away from the situation, befriend the person being bullied and call for help. Students joined Murphy and Yarosh onstage, donning an anti-bullying superhero outfit of a towel cape, goggles and a swimming cap to demonstrate how to be a hero and follow the ABCs.
During the afternoon, Murphy and Yarosh spoke to students about overcoming adversity in smaller group sessions.
