Guest Speaker for Native American Events

Hi, I’m Tom Thelen, author of the book “Victimproof.” One of my greatest honors is being a frequent guest speaker at Native American events on the topics of Bullying Prevention, Suicide Prevention, and Mental Health. I’ve spoken at over 500 schools and conferences across America. My message of becoming “Victim-Proof” focuses on bullying prevention and suicide prevention for Native American Youth. I love showing students, educators, and parents how to break the cycle of victimization and how to “be the change” in their world.

Be The Change (Character Focus): Motivational Speaker for Middle School & High School Assemblies

Positive school culture isn’t built by posters and t-shirts alone. Instead, it comes from the attitudes and actions of every person in the school. In this session Tom shows students how they can “Be The Change” on campus. When they see something that needs to change, that’s when they need to “be the change.” And that means taking positive action so everyone knows they matter at school. Using his personal life story, Tom shows how character is built by the small choices we make every day and how making these positive choices is the key to creating a culture of character.

Be The Change (Leadership Focus): Youth Motivational Speaker for High School Assemblies

How can ordinary students turn into extraordinary leaders? In this leadership presentation Tom shows students how the painful experiences of life can be used as opportunities to grow in leadership. He takes them on a journey through his own life story including a counseling program he went to as a teen and how he learned to use self-discipline to overcome great adversity. Toward the end of the speech Tom shows a short video about the Freedom Riders, highlighting how they faced their fears and created a positive impact on American culture. Tom challenges teens to stop wandering through life and find a cause to serve that is “greater than self.”

The Victimproof Anti-Bullying Program

Tom Thelen’s Victimproof School Assembly helps students end bullying and cyberbullying from the inside out. The program teaches students the Top Three SOLUTIONS FOR STUDENTS to prevent bullying and cyberbullying (Become Victimproof, Set Boundaries, and Be The Change). At the heart of the Anti-BullyingAssembly are practical steps for students to build self-esteem, develop resiliency, and establish a culture of kindness at their school. Youth Speaker Tom Thelen tells the story of how he was bullied as a young teen, and how his poor choices led to self-destructive behavior. Thankfully the guidance of one teacher helped turn his life around. Click here to read an excerpt from Tom’s new book: Victimproof.

Bullying, violence, depression, and other at risk behaviors have one thing in common – a lack of character in the lives of students. This interactive school assembly program gives students the tools to overcome bullying with peer leadership, positive choices, and character development. The program is designed to comply with national standards and research-based programs for bullying and cyberbullying prevention. Upon conclusion, teachers are given a sheet of discussion questions for follow-up in the classroom as well as access to a 12-month video curriculum follow up program.