STRETCH-ing Lessons

By Matt Hawkins

Bradley students are talking down bullies one classroom at a time through a series of anti-bullying presentations in area schools. Students Ready to Make Change, or STRETCH, has touched more than 200 central Illinois classrooms with personal stories to encourage children and teens.

STRETCH is the creation of teacher education professors Dr. Twila Lukowiak and Dr. Celia Johnson. Lukowiak was bullied as a youth and saw how harassment impacted her life and several family members. They co-founded this organization to stop bullying behaviors and provide safe ways for students to heal.

“What could I do as a parent and professor so this wouldn’t keep happening?” she said. “It’s in every school in every town. I felt compelled to do something.”

She shared her campaign idea with teacher education students in 2014, and the idea resonated on campus. Since then, STRETCH members have created interactive, engaging presentations that teach K-12 students about types of bullying, strategies to combat it and the positive power of kind acts.

One of those students is elementary education major Sarah Wadi ’16, of Edelstein, Illinois. She was drawn to the organization because of her love of children and shared desire to end bullying.

As a future teacher, she wants children to understand that they don’t face bullies alone.

“I couldn’t stand behind this program more,” said elementary education major Sarah Wadi ’16, of Edelstein, Illinois. “Every child deserves to have someone in their corner and I want to be that person for them.”

It’s also a personal mission for international business major James Ghareeb ’16, of Dunlap, Illinois. The aspiring musician wants to teach youth the importance of kindness and acceptance. He uses inspirational songs such as Ben Howard’s “Keep Your Head Up” to share his message.

“It’s a gratifying feeling to use music to counter bullies,” he said.

STRETCH now boasts 25 students who develop and give age-appropriate presentations at area schools. The 45-minute lessons show bullying’s harmful consequences through short videos, role-play, games, music group discussion and personal stories.

Though children may hear similar messages from authority figures at school, they don’t often connect with role models closer to their age. That relational element brings messages to life as college students become figures to emulate.

“I was floored the first time a little kid came up to me and said ‘you’re cool’,” Ghareeb said. “I remember how awesome it was to hear that encouragement when I was a kid, and it’s amazing to be the friendly role model on the other side now.”