How One Man’s Passion Turned into a Lifelong Mission to Inspire Students
At Spruce Mountain Middle School, students received a powerful lesson on bullying from someone who had faced it firsthand. On Friday, Dec. 13, Jason Tardy, a professional juggler from Buckfield, shared his personal story. He talked about overcoming bullying. He also shared how he turned his passion into a career. Through his high-energy show, Stand Up, Stand Out, Tardy encouraged students to become “upstanders” in the fight against bullying.
A Journey of Resilience
Tardy recounted how he was bullied as a child for his love of juggling and performing. Despite the ridicule, he chose to persevere, dedicating years of practice to his craft. Today, he holds world records in juggling. He uses his skills to captivate young audiences. He delivers a crucial message about bullying.
“Acting like you care is a very important life lesson to learn,” Tardy said at the beginning of his presentation. “Especially when you get married.”
He amazed the audience with his juggling acts. This included a feat where he juggled three 10-pound bowling balls. He did this with the help of a student volunteer, DJ Walker. But beyond the spectacle, his message was clear. Bullying is serious. Everyone has a role to play in stopping it.
Understanding Bullying
Tardy explained that bullying involves two key elements:
- A targeted pattern of repeated behavior.
- An imbalance of power where one person uses their strength or influence over another.
“This show wouldn’t happen if I had given in to those bullies, had given up,” Tardy noted. “I stood up to them. This is the only job I have ever had. I have been doing this for 30 years.”
Bystanders vs. Upstanders
Tardy identified four types of bystanders in bullying situations:
- Reinforcers: Those who laugh or encourage the bully.
- Assistants: Those who help the bully.
- Outsiders: Those who stay silent and do nothing.
- Upstanders: Those who take action to stop bullying.
He urged students to be upstanders by:
- Reporting bullying to a teacher or adult.
- Calmly telling the bully to stop.
- Questioning the bully’s behavior to break their pattern.
- Distracting the bully to shift focus.
- Escorting the victim to a safe space.
The Power of Staying Calm
Tardy shared his personal strategy for handling bullies: “I stayed and didn’t get upset. They want you to cry, get upset. They would call me a terrible name and I would agree with them. They didn’t know what to do. It is really important to stay calm.”
He emphasized that fighting back often makes things worse and that seeking help is a sign of strength. “Mental health is important. If you leave bad feelings inside, it can lead to bad things,” he stressed.
A Final Message of Empowerment
Tardy closed his presentation with a strong call to action: “You are the ones who have the biggest role. You have the most power. Do something if you see bullying. Reach out. Help each other. I hope you will stand up, stand out against bullying.”
Jason Tardy used humor, skill, and heartfelt storytelling. He left an indelible mark on the students. He inspired them to take a stand against bullying.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/YSUvaCsZHa0?si=B6tIy9UBU8JHdtsR
- https://www.sunjournal.com/2024/12/24/juggler-jason-tardy-urges-students-to-stand-up-stand-out-against-bullying/
- https://jasontardy.com/school-shows/
- https://chatgpt.com/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
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