Reading Week came to an end at Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School last week with a special presentation from BMX biker Kevin Robinson, known as K-Rob.
The entire multi-purpose room was filled with enthusiastic, cheering children as Robinson began his presentation, which focused on the themes of “teamwork, respect, inspire, confidence, and kindness” (TRICK). It was interspersed with the amazing bike stunts he’s honed since childhood through 10 X-Games and shown in 30 countries all over the world.
He used student and staff volunteers to demonstrate various role-playing scenarios and encouraged students to make a difference in the lives of others as often as possible through their daily behaviors and interactions.
“Say one nice thing to someone that makes them smile,” he said. “Treat others the way you want to be treated. The first impressions are what people remember, and they remember how you treated them.”
To cite a real-life example, Robinson told the story of being teased in middle school by another student as he rode to school each day. Robinson never forgot how he was treated by the other student who taunted him day in and day out, no matter how many years went by.
“Twenty years later I was living out of state but I was in Providence for the Gravity Games, and I saw that same kid coming up to me,” Robinson said. “I wondered, was he going to taunt me again? But instead, he came up to me all friendly, and asked me for a backstage pass. Do you think I gave him one?”
The students waited for his answer.
“Of course I did. I treated him the way I wanted to be treated, and I wanted to be the one to make the change, to be remembered for good, even though I still remembered the way he treated me 20 years ago,” Robinson said.
He told the students that life is like his bike stunt, “Boomerang,” in which everything comes full circle. He demonstrated the stunt for the audience members, who cheered and clapped.
Robinson told the students that the TRICK themes represent the “trick” to being a good person, and gave an example of positive actions to go along with each word, even teaching students how to properly shake someone’s hand.
“You don’t want to shake hands like a wet noodle, or invade someone’s personal space or have too strong a grip,” he said, demonstrating each, and then showing the proper way to shake hands. “You want to give good personal space, say your name, and make good eye contact.”
Throughout his presentation, Robinson showed video clips of his world-famous stunts, including when he broke a world record in 2008. He performed indoor stunts before the students’ eyes, much to their delight.
“On Aug. 13, I will be in Kennedy Plaza breaking another world record, doing a back flip 120 feet on my bike,” he said. “I’ve been training and preparing and getting ready for this. If you want to be successful at something, you can’t just go out and do it. You need to get ready, and that goes for whatever you’re doing in life.”
He encouraged the students to take good care of themselves and to be confident, continuing to try even when they might be told they can’t achieve something.
“Your whole life, people will tell you things you can’t do. My guidance counselor told me that riding my bike was a waste of time,” he said. “Now I have traveled to 30 countries, won gold medals, and started my own non-profit organization. Fear makes you try harder, and nothing beats that exciting time you get it right, whether it’s the first time riding a bike, or the first time reading a big book and hearing your teacher tell you you did a good job. No amount of money or medals or awards can beat that feeling.”
To finish off his presentation, Robinson asked for several brave staff volunteers to come forward and lie very still on the floor. Starting in the school lobby, he rode into the room and jumped over the teachers – first one, then two, then three, and finally four of them in a row – to the cheers and applause of students.
For more information about Robinson’s school assemblies, visit schoolassemblyprogram.com.
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