Matt received 85 thank you notes in the mail from the 6th-grade at Paw Paw Middle School. The students saw Matt Wilhelm’s anti-bullying school assembly on March 30th. Judging from the content of the thank you cards, they all heard the message loud and clear.
Below are some excerpts:
“I loved how you taught us to stand up for someone and be their hero.”
“Your speech really inspired me to be someone’s Batman. A girl in my grade has no friends, talk about her behind her back, and say mean stuff to her. I have made it my mission to be her Batman. Your entire speech was so inspirational to me. It really woke me up about my classmates and how to reach out to someone who needs a friend.”
Thank you note from 6th grade student.
“I am going to start standing up for what is right. Your advice has inspired me to do something great, and not to give up.”
“I feel like you gave us as a school a bigger reason to stand up to stop bullying. Your story inspired me to stand up for others. After you left our school you made more kids stand up for others and that was a great feeling. I know how it feels to be bullied. The cool kids call me gay, but I’m not. Now people started to stand up for me. Thank you for making a difference.”
“Thank you for telling us your story. I promise I will stand up for people and never ever bully. In the future I will not stand and watch someone get bullied, I will help. I will do my best to stop bullying in any way I can.”
“Thanks for coming to our school and talking to us about bullying. Everyday now I hear someone say Be somebody’s Batman.”
“I took a lot out of your inspiring speech. I’ve never been bullied, but I will try to be someone’s superhero. Unfortunately, I have been a bystander though. But now, I will definitely stand up if I see bullying again.”
Thank you note from 6th grade student.
“Now that I’m in middle school it’s hard to think it’s ok to be different, but now I know this is OK.” Not tool long ago I felt insecure, but now I know that it’s ok to be different.”
“I would have never stepped up to someone being bullied until your speech. Now when I see someone getting bullied I am going to intervene and tell them to stop.”
“Your speech inspired me to try harder in school. It inspired me so much I actually got my grade bumped up a little. I hope I can get into a nice college and get a nice job and house. Thank you again.”
Front of thank you card from Paw Paw Middle School.
A thank you note from the principal of Paw Paw Middle School.
