How To Make A Bully Resign - Advice From A Former Bully | Kristen Geez | TEDxPleasantGrove

Summary

Kristen Hadeed founded 'Advising Generation Z' in 2010 to help students from fifth to twelfth grade improve their behavior through leadership opportunities. Once a bully herself, Hadeed was inspired by Dr. Linda Parker to transform her own behavior and lead a school initiative celebrating Black History Month. Her program has since served over 5,000 students, showing that challenging students can become positive leaders with the right guidance and opportunities.

Takeaways

• 🌟 In 2010, Kristen launched 'Advising Generation Z', a program aimed at transforming the behavior of challenging students.
• 🏫 On September 5th, 2010, she signed her first client, a school district and municipal court, to help 150 tough students become leaders.
• 🤔 An administrator's question sparked Kristen's reflection on how leadership could reform difficult students, drawing from her own past as a bully.
• 👩‍🏫 Kristen's mother's unique punishment of writing from the dictionary instilled discipline but also a sense of achievement.
• 🏆 Dr. Linda Parker, an administrator, recognized Kristen's potential and gave her the first leadership opportunity, which was pivotal for her transformation.
• 📚 Kristen's school's initiative to celebrate Black History Month became her first leadership challenge, which she initially resisted but ultimately embraced.
• 🖋️ Dr. Parker's strategy of involving Kristen's mother and giving her significant responsibilities made her understand the importance of her role.
• 🌈 Kristen learned to overcome racism and bullying by focusing on her mission, with Dr. Parker's guidance to stay offenseless.
• 💪 Kristen's transformation from a bully to a leader was completed through Dr. Parker's mentorship and the opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives.
• 📈 Kristen's program has since impacted over 5,217 students across 11 school districts, proving the effectiveness of leadership opportunities for challenging students.
• 🙏 Kristen's story emphasizes the importance of recognizing the potential in every student and the transformative power of mentorship and leadership.

Q & A

What was the name of the mentoring program Kristen created?

The mentoring program Kristen created was called 'Advising Generation Z'.

What was the primary focus of the 'Advising Generation Z' program?

The program specialized in improving the behaviors of fifth through twelfth grade students.

Who was the first client Kristen signed for her mentoring program?

The first client Kristen signed was a school district and a municipal court.

What was the initial skepticism expressed by an administrator about Kristen's program?

The administrator questioned whether giving challenging students a chance at leadership would actually improve their behavior.

How did Kristen respond to the administrator's skepticism?

Kristen responded by sharing her personal story of transformation, explaining that leadership opportunities had worked for her in the past.

What was Kristen's behavior like before she transformed her ways?

Before her transformation, Kristen was described as a bully, a ringleader, a plotter, and as being two headstrong. She broke rules and manipulated others.

What unique punishment did Kristen's mother give her for misbehaving?

Kristen's mother, a VP at a Fortune 500 company, punished her by making her write chapters out of the dictionary for every offense.

What significant event in Kristen's life led to her first experience with leadership?

Being expelled from her school district due to bullying led to her attending Northwest High School, where she met Dr. Linda Parker who gave her a chance at leadership.

How did Dr. Linda Parker inspire Kristen to change her behavior?

Dr. Parker inspired Kristen by giving her a leadership role in organizing Black History Month, showing faith in her abilities, and helping her see her potential to positively impact others.

What was the impact of Kristen's leadership on the school's celebration of Black History Month?

Kristen's leadership led to various activities such as hanging up black facts, highlighting influential people of color, catering soul food, and culminating in a pep rally with a keynote speaker.

What is Kristen's core belief about challenging students and leadership?

Kristen believes that at the core of every bully and challenging student is a misguided leader waiting to be redirected, and that giving them leadership opportunities can inspire positive change.