The Stand for the Silent (SFTS) presentation had an incredibly profound impact on our 8th graders. The message of acceptance, accountability, and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves resonated so deeply that our students took it upon themselves to share the message with our K-3 classrooms. It sparked meaningful conversations, encouraged self-reflection, and empowered students who had been silently struggling to finally speak up.

One of the most powerful moments I witnessed was a teacher apologizing to a student after realizing they had missed signs of distress. Another unforgettable moment came when a student who had been silent for so long bravely called out her bullies for not acknowledging their past actions. The honesty and vulnerability in that room were overwhelming—you will need numerous boxes of tissues before the presentation is over.

The topic is heavy, but if it saves even one student, one family, from experiencing what Kirk and his family have endured, then it is absolutely worth it. We initially held the presentation for our 4th-8th graders, but we are committed to bringing SFTS back again and again for as long as they are willing to come.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for spreading this powerful message and for giving our students HOPE—because it can and will get better, especially when we STAND together.

We were fortunate to have SFTS at our school to discuss the critical topics of bullying and suicide. The presentation had a tremendous impact on our students, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who attended.

The speaker tackled these heavy, sensitive subjects with courage and compassion, creating an environment where students felt safe to reflect on their own experiences and the impact of their actions. The material opened their eyes to the realities of bullying and the importance of kindness, understanding, and support for one another. It was so powerful to see students comforting one another during the presentation.

The session not only raised awareness but also inspired meaningful conversations among students and staff. Many shared afterward their own experiences with bullying and that they felt empowered to make positive changes in their behavior and to look out for peers who might be struggling.

We are grateful for the speaker’s ability to connect with our students and address these issues in such a powerful and impactful way.

The presentation by SFTS at our school was definitely the most impactful assembly we have had on the topics of bullying and suicide awareness yet.

Kirk Smalley is genuine and powerful in his delivery of his story and the impact these two very sensitive topics have had on his and his family’s life. He connected directly with students and staff in a way that few individuals have the ability to do.

This session opened the way for staff and students to have comfortable, meaningful conversations around these topics. Many students were immediately interested in starting a club to keep the momentum and positive changes moving forward.

We are thankful to Kirk and his team for making it a life’s mission to speak out in such an impactful way on these very pressing issues.

This has had a very strong impact on our behaviors. We have had several students reference the assembly when working through issues with other students. We as a school have referenced it as well with individual students that continue to treat others unkind and find everything to be funny. It has been great!

We are so thankful that Kirk and Stand for the Silent were able to visit our Junior High School. The impact his story and message had on our students and staff resonated with them immediately. We cannot thank him enough for visiting, and the footprint that he left on our school will still be here for years to come!

I have noticed an immediate change in our school thanks to the Stand For the Silent presentation. Kids are laughing more and I have less children coming to me saying someone is bullying them Definitely changed the vibe of the whole school! I will be using this presentation every year!

The presentation was relevant, and made a positive impact on our staff and students! It really helped our school promote a bully-free culture, and encouraged our students to think about how their words and actions affect others. I would definitely recommend this presentation for any middle or high school in the state of Texas!

Your visit to my school changed my life. I am now trying to start my own chapter in our school. As a victim of being bullied, I know the effects and how it feels. It’s not okay. I want to stop bullying in my school, community, and many other places. I wanted to thank y’all for the inspiration y’all gave me when y’all came to my school.

Having Stand For The Silent come out and talk to our middle school kids was amazing. This is one of the best presentations on bullying and how it can affect others. Kirk’s testimonial is amazing, heartfelt and moving. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room. I would highly recommend Kirk and his presentation.

Since the presentation a month and a half ago, there have been a few other presentations in our community on the topic of suicide awareness. Your presentation started many important conversations that were needed in school, homes, and the community. In the middle school and high school, we have had fewer students being mean to others. It really made some students stop and think. We have also had a few parents call and say thank you for having the presentation, because it made a difference in their child’s life.

Your presentation was amazing. We are still talking about it and we will remember it, hopefully forever. You are a great presenter and clearly a genuine person. Maybe you could return in a few years??? Btw, 3 students spoke with our social worker yesterday in the afternoon about having suicidal thoughts.

We love you Kirk and we love you TY 😍

The Seventh Street Caber family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Kirk Smalley and the Stand for the Silent community. Together they hosted a suicide and bully prevention assembly for our 3rd-5th grade students. Students profoundly stated “I am Somebody” and became partners with the SFTS Community.

My name is Kacey, and the School Resource Officer at New Way Academy in Phoenix. I wanted to extend my personal gratitude to you for the impact you have made here. The positive interactions between students that have been occurring this week, during breaks and lunches, have been noticed at great deal by staff and myself. There are never the words to console anyone left in the wake of such an unnecessary tragedy that most don’t share. It is always a question of WHY and WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE. Grief does empower us to do amazing things, and you are the epitome of that. Please continue to share and make all the children and adults see. I promise, you are making a profound difference.

Kirk, I go to middle school and I just wanted to say that you changed my world forever. You are inspirational. I have been bullied and I have been a bully. If I could I would go back and change anytime that I have been a bully to anyone. I will now stand for the silent. You are my hero. God bless.

Thank you for speaking at our school today. Bullying is a problem with a tough solution. I think you might have it though. The assembly definitely opened eyes at our school. Though few of us raised our hands we have all been bullies and I believe we all faced that today. I know what it’s like to be bullied and it was nice to see that I have support…that I am somebody. Thank you.

I think when you went to my School today you motivated a lot of people because you had me in tears and you made me change. And I said sorry to a lot of people and they were happy to hear me say sorry and me and my best friend were crying together i hope to see you soon thank you lmL and ill have you in my prayers.

Kirk, I know you don’t know me, but I just wanted to say, thank you. For everything. When you spoke to us, you were an inspirational man that changed a lot of people’s minds. When you asked who here is or was a bully, and only those four girls raised their hands, I was a bit ashamed that I didn’t raise mine along with it. I am glad to say that the kid I did bully back in 7th grade, I am now very great friends with him. We have put out pasts behind us and managed to establish a friendship that is still strong and going. So thank you, everyone of you in the Stand For The Silent Program that is out there changing lives of several thousand kids and families. I just hope that with the help of all these wonderful people, we can have that number breach the millions. Thank you a lot Kirk and the Stand For The Silent program. We love you.

I am going to be honest. I really didn’t know what to expect when I heard there was assembly. I thought it would be boring. When you told your story you had me on my toes each second. I would like to say thank you for inspiring me and everyone around me. Now I look out for someone that needs a friend or just a laugh, thank you. I now see people a little differently. I have been bullied and I am a bully, but never again will I do so. SFTS. lmL, thank you.

I just watched the bully episode on CNN featuring Kirk Smalley and I just wanted to commend you guys on what you are doing. I am 25 years old an I have definitely been a bully and been bullied and this episode literally changed my life. I would like to thank you for doing such great things for all of the children, people and this country as a whole. Keep up the great work, you guys frigging awesome. Thank you!

Hello I wanted to say I saw your presentation online you came to my school but I didn’t see it and it changed my life. I am a bully. All my friends are bullies. Seeing your presentation made me want to change that. I realize now someone’s life is not worth being cool or funny for a day. I made fun of 2 people until the point where they told me the were going to kill them self and at the time I told them I didn’t care and the only reason they had not to was for the poor guy who has to clean it up. I also am an internet bully. I have told countless people to kill themselves and I wish I could find them and tell them I am sorry. Kids shouldn’t make fun of other kids for being cool because if they stood up people would think their cool still. Hopefully I want to see a time where helping people is the cool thing to do. Thank you for reading this and from now on I pledge to stand up for the silent.

I lost my own dad to suicide when I was eleven and I can’t tell you how thankful I am that our district has moved in the direction of being more open to talking about this topic. For a really long time, I was embarrassed to ever tell people what I went through with my dad because it has always been such a taboo topic. So THANK YOU for giving us the opportunity to talk with our students about this. I think it will eventually help and save more students even though it’s a hard topic to address.

Kirk – Your welcome and thank you. Your presentation was amazing. We are still talking about it and we will remember it, hopefully forever. You are a great presenter and clearly a genuine person. Maybe you could return in a few years??? Btw, 3 students spoke with our social worker yesterday in the afternoon about having suicidal thoughts. We love you Kirk and we love you TY 😍 We’ll keep in touch… – Kyle

I’m in the sixth grade and I have been bullied for six years. I have thought about and almost tried to kill myself twice. I have never been good at making friends. My entire life I have had maybe 50 friends. I haven’t told anyone but my 5 closest friends about the attempts. Your presentation saved my life. A lot of horrible things have happened to me. I never really knew until about 3 weeks ago. It also helped me realize that I was asked to join a gang when I was eight. People have called me names and hit me for years. I really just felt like asking if you could possibly come again. I have seen it and said something but nothing is happening. It is the new kids this year that are doing this. I know there is a good chance you won’t, but honestly, I think that these kids need it. I know that it helped me and I am just hoping that it will help them too.

Mr. Smalley came to my school today and inspired me so much, his message touched my heart so much, I was thinking of suicide a couple of days before he came to my school with this message, he touched my heart and made me change my mind about hurting myself.

I thought about all the times I have been bullied and realized that I don’t have to go through it alone. But more importantly, I recognized that sometimes I am a bully myself and that has to stop. Once I pulled myself together after the assembly, I walked up to a girl who is often bullied on our bus. I tried to explain to her how deeply sorry I was from the bottom of my heart that I never stuck up for her. I told her that I would from now on and I was here for her if she ever needed me. This girl isn’t always nice, and she’s certainly not my favorite person, but I hugged her as tight as I could and told her I would be there for her, and I meant it. Kirk Smalley spoke at my school today. I was the girl with blonde hair and a red shirt, front middle row, third from the end. Kirk moved everyone, he touched our hearts in a way no teacher, parent, or anyone else can. I would like to become a part of this as much as possible. I am a high victim of bullying and lots of things have happened to me, I have thought about suicide several times before, but I know I am loved and needed in this world by many others. I need to take a bigger stand than I have before. Please write me back so I can know who I am talking to😂. I hugged Kirk at the end if that helps him remember me at all.

Right before the assembly this morning I had gotten two text telling me to go kill myself and I often get told by my neighbors that they would be so much happier if i left the world but the two people that had txt me this morning had said sorry right after the assembly so thank u!

When Kirk came to my middle school I was really touched. It helped make me realize that suicide was not an option. I just wanna say thank you, because if it wasn’t for you I don’t know if I’d be here today.

Kirk you are such a inspiration to me and also my idol… i could tell u that u saved my life, whenever i feel down i always go on Netflix and watch the movie called bully and you were on there u came to my school last year…but anyways i thought i would let you know that you are always saving someones life…and especially mine! Thank you for everything u have done and i would be even more grateful if u replied to this message.

Kirk thank you so much for coming to our school today! It meant the world to me because you’re just like us. You know the pain we’ve gone through and want to help. I want to be like you and spread the word about suicide because my best friend in the world died of suicide and no one knew about it… You really hit home run in my heart Kirk and once again thank you!

Hello! I heard about you and just wanted to say thank you for what you do!!! My 15 year old son had a neighbor/classmate who committed suicide this past weekend and he is so upset about it. There were 3 teen suicides here in Midland this weekend and we are praying so hard that messages like yours are heard by these young adults. Thank you again and Bless You!!!!

Kirk, I’m not sure if you recognize me, but I just want to say thank you for everything your doing. I was a victim contemplating suicide 5 months ago & I’m thankful my best friend save my life. Thank you for influencing everyone to open their eyes.

Today, my life was changed. I go to the school you spoke at today I’ve been bullied, I once had a suicide planned all out. I forgot about that today. I’m going to take a stand for bullying!

hello, Mr. and Mrs. Smalley. kirk, came to the high school, and completely moved me. I cried like a little baby, but you made me happy knowing hopefully you get through to EVERYONE, you definitely got through to me…I used to have at least 10 GOOD friends that I could count on, this was 5 years ago I don’t really have what people call FRIENDS, I’m never mean to people, I try to be as nice as I can, and people still try to avoid me and they call me names and tease me. I’ve never done anything mean to people that would make them hate me. I’m one of the kids that sits alone and gets teased for looking like a “loner”. I don’t even have to say a word to anybody and they say rude things to me for nothing, about a year ago I thought about taking my own life because I couldn’t take the way people treated me, no one seemed to care about anything that when one with me whether it was a favorite pet found dead to a family member dying, I didn’t do it cause I found the strength to try and forget what those people said, they still continue to tease me to this day, and you helped me find MORE strength in myself…..I had ONE actual friend(or who I thought). that I had to recently defriend because she’s trying to ruin my life. I really have no good friend that could tell secrets to or have fun with anymore…im 14…I love you guys for helping people out everywhere. LML. SFTS.

Today you visited my High School. I am very inspired by your words. I just really want to thank you. You have saved my life. I was planning to stab myself with my mom’s knife this weekend. I just felt like no one would care if I died. And I also felt like I could never do anything right, but after hearing your story I felt like I could be a member of SFTS and save lives like you. You are awesome!

My sister and I are artists, we both paint and have sold our paintings in oklahoma and texas. I made the decision, that I wanted to be there to help kids get through what I went through. Now I speak to kids in Stevens County, build them up. I let them know, that they ARE loved, by me, by Jesus, by God, and by many others. And they ARE somebody.

You came to my school and told us your story. I just wanted to let you know that today you changed my life today, and made me realize that that is not the way out. So I pledge to you and your family that I will take a stand against bullying, and remember even tho you don’t know me I got your back, and I love you.(: Your a true hero and I’m sure Ty is so proud.

You spoke at my school today and I just wanted to thank you and share what my emotions were afterwards. Telling yourself you aren’t going to cry, because you’ve put all the pain in the past… But hearing how much relevancy the 1:4 has to you. Knowing you are the statistic. Seeing all the people that have bullied you and made your life hell neglect to raise their hands about being a bully but raising your own simply because you at times didn’t stand for others making yourself the not-so-innocent bystander which makes you a bully too. Forcing yourself to flashback to all the times you’ve thought of suicide and all the times you’ve felt that hurt. The answer isn’t the pills in momma’s cabinet or opening the car door and jumping out on the highway, it isn’t crying yourself to sleep or vomiting back up pills after trying to overdose sitting in the shower fully clothed. We aren’t talking about numbers anymore. We’re speaking of the aspect of life. Holding your breath as long as you can just to feel the need for air, and now we all feel the need to stand for the silent.

When I heard about your son and the stories of other kids who took their own life, I cried harder then I have in years. As I listened to you and cried my eyes out, I realized sitting there crying and doing nothing wouldn’t prevent this from continuing to happen. Right then and there, I promised myself that I wouldn’t just have a sad day where I heard awful, sad stories. It made me realize if I feel so passionately about this, I’m going to help make a difference. I’m going to do everything in my power to stop bullying and stand for the silent.

I was one of the kids at the school that you came to today and I wanted to let you know that things are already starting to happen differently around here because of you. All day I have noticed all the little things people say that can have so much more of an impact on someone than we realized, and I saw other people realizing it too. The kids who always laugh and pick on other people were asking if they needed any help. The kids that sit alone had someone becoming their friend and sitting next to them. The people that started to tease someone stopped and complimented them instead.

Thank you for what you did for us today at our school. What you did I took extremely to hear, mostly because I was bullied. Sad to say, I was one of the 1 in 4 children who knew exactly how they were going to end their life. I thought about it almost everyday, but I knew I had to stay: for my friends, mother, father and many others. So here I am now and feeling a lot better about myself. But I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you did for us today. I am lucky, along with other children like me, that there are people like you in this world who are trying to help the people like who I used to be… I thank you.

You spoke at the school I am an assistant at. I was moved to tears. May God bless you and your family. I am so thankful you have started this wonderful organization and I am so sorry for you loss. I can only imagine. I am going to organize some more so that my daughter’s Girl Scout troop and Good New Club can start chapters in our area. I was bullied a lot growing up myself and had a plan in place by the age of 9. I tried for the first time when I was 14. God has me here for a reason. After meeting you last Friday, I think part of that reason is to spread the word of bullying MUST stop. Thank you again! lmL ❤

Dear Kirk, I was the girl in the pink coat you hugged today… I just want to say thank you for coming here today and sharing your story, I just wanted to share with you mine. I was an 8th grader, my “Best Friend” was my bully she drove me to the point I was going to sneak out of my house and walk to the underpass 3 miles away and lay down. She Was my best friend of 7 years. I stuck up for her for 7 years only to be bullied by the person I trusted most. It was one day that my school put on the stand for the silent campaign. I didn’t share my story but it was your sons story and seeing how broken you were that I knew I couldn’t do that to my family. And for that I am forever grateful…

You really have touched a lot of hearts , and taught me that I am somebody….Thank You….. Before the assembly I was honestly thinking of ending it..

Right now I am suffering very bad depression, many days I thought about taking my life. Thanks to you I didn’t, 3 years ago you came to my school and told your story. it gave me a whole new look at life and at people. the most important thing that I remember and that is keeping me here is “I am somebody.” since I heard that I never forgot it and think about it every day. its been in my head for 3 years now. So I would like to say thank you for your presentation and you are helping many people including me. hopefully, you will read this and god bless you.

Thank u for coming that day it was really amazing you were the first adult I’ve told that i had thoughts about killing myself some of my friends knew but just hearing someone say that my life is more then i make it out to be is awesome the only person that i told and said not to do it was my boyfriend so thank u so much i really need to hear it.

Thank you for opening my eyes and showing me regardless of who the bully is to stand up for the poor kids getting teased everyday. Thanks to you I have mended my past, after the assembly yesterday I went to the one girl I have always been mean to broke down crying in her arms and told her I was sorry for everything and told her I loved her! You have changed me and I am a better person because of you! Thank you Kirk. lmL

I just wanted to thank you again for helping us when our son was being bullied last year. Because of your speech we knew how important it was to take the matter seriously. We ended up transferring our son to a private school and he is fitting in so well and has not had one problem at all. Know that you are making a difference and saving lives! God bless!

Throughout the 25 years I have been at my current school site, I have not seen a more impactful assembly than Stand For The Silent. Kirk Smalley’s presentation is incredible’ My current school has invited Stand For The Silent to come out 3 different times over the past 10 years. The students in all grades were engaged during the entire presentation. This is NOT just an anti- bullying presentation. While tugging at the students’ emotions, Mr. Smalley explains the impact bullying can have on people and then empowers them to make a difference. The immediate change in the overall school culture is amazing! After the presentation, Stand For The Silent provided resources to assist in creating a school club where we can continue the positive momentum to make a change! Stand For The Silent continues to touch the hearts, minds, and lives of our students in far-reaching ways that have helped transform their lives. I strongly believe that by providing the opportunity for Mr. Smalley to engage with the school community, the students are able to reach and learn beyond the instructional goals of the classroom. I highly recommend Stand for the Silent!!!

Thank you for speaking at our school today. Bullying is a problem with a tough solution. I think you might have it though. The assembly definitely opened eyes at our school. Though few of us raised our hands we have all been the bully and I believe we all faced that today. I know what it’s like to be bullied and it was nice to see that I have support …that I am somebody. Thank you.

I think when you went to my school today you motivated a lot of people because you had me in tears and you made me change And i said sorry to a lot of people and they were happy to hear me say sorry and me and my best friend were crying together i hope to see you soon thank you LmL and ill have you in my prayers.

Mr. Smalley, I was a bully once and had to take a bully free class and it helped me a lot but the other day when you came to the 5 & 6 grade center it really changed my life’s direction. Thank you sorry for your past. R.I.P Ty Smalley sorry for your loss.

You had come and spoke to our school, man I just wanted you to know I love every bit of what you are doing, your awesome man. I love you. When I entered that gymnasium at the high school this morning I was a bully, I was one of the top three bullies but I sat there and listened to your story and for me it was life changing, I walked out of that gymnasium a different man on Thursday because of your story. Your story is THE most inspiring story I have ever heard. Needless to say I Am No Longer A Bully. Man keep on the good work and I will join you. I know it was a tragic accident for you to want to do something like this but I know your doing an awesome job, keep it up and you will change the world I love you man LmL!!!!

Thank you for opening my eyes and showing me regardless of who the bully is to stand up for the poor kids getting teased everyday. Thanks to you I have mended my past, after the assembly yesterday I went to the one girl I have always been mean to broke down crying in her arms and told her I was sorry for everything and told her I loved her! You have changed me and I am a better person because of you! Thank you Kirk.

My daughter attended your presentation yesterday at Norfolk Collegiate. She was a victim of bullying behavior through the years. And, also recently, Her official bully, Noah, came to her after your presentation and apologized, hugged her, and asked her to forgive him. WOW! This was a powerful moment in Gabby’s life and she was moved by your words.

I stand for the silent. My heart hurts everyday. Children who don’t know what the “end” really is. I am passionate for those who maybe think “not in this community, not in this place”. I do t have the money to donate but I will always support this group. When y’all cry I cry. When y’all hurt. I hurt. I don’t know how to make a difference. I am no one but I will always stand behind you. I will always share stories. I will never let anyone forget that words and actions are hurtful. You don’t know what someone else’s life is like. Please know that even though I can’t financially support that I let everyone know how important your organization is. How important it is that we support each other. How important that we don’t lose another sweet sweet innocent life because of someone else’s insecurities. Or lack of understanding. I’m a grown woman and y’all have saved my life.