Stand by Me Day at Manchester Middle School

Manchester Middle School’s 17th Annual Stand By Me Day was once again a day full of positive influences from over 40 guest presenters this year, including athletes, musicians, alumni, health professionals and representatives from dozens of community organizations.  Instead of going from class to class, students rotated through a schedule of special programs and guest presentations designed to promote good decision-making and help students navigate safely through the challenges of their teenage years.

Avoiding peer pressure, making good choices, and believing in yourself were common themes of the speakers. A group of inmates from New Jersey prisons spoke to students as part of Project Pride.  They all told stories of how a few bad choices changed their lives forever and advised the students to not be so concerned with being popular or worried about what others think.  One inmate said, “I was always in such a rush to grow up.  Don’t do that – just be yourself, enjoy being a kid.”

Keith Elias, a former NFL running back with the Indianapolis Colts and NY Giants, urged students to be leaders, not followers.  “Don’t make decisions based on your perception of what everyone else is thinking,” he advised. He said the five most dangerous words are “everyone else is doing it.”

Paul Wichansky spoke to students about how he overcame the challenges of being born with cerebral palsy. “You might think that because I have a disability that you can do everything better that I can,” he said.  “I’m here to shatter that idea.” He is now a meteorologist with a Ph.D. in environmental science from Rutgers University, and has accomplished many things in his lifetime that no one thought he could, starting with walking (doctors said he never would).  Some of his other accomplishments are: getting his drivers’ license, drawing and painting, sky diving, scuba diving, being a published author, designing websites, and speaking at the United Nations and Special Olympics. “The most important thing is that I never gave up – I simply found another way to reach my goals.”

Among the other presenters this year were representatives from the Armed Forces, Manchester & State Police, NJROTC, Harbor House shelter for teens, and 4-H Club.

This was the last Stand By Me Day for organizer Joe Bolcato, who is retiring this year.  “I want to thank all the staff over these 17, 18 years of working on Stand By Me Day for how wonderful they have been,” he remarked.  “I really couldn’t have done it without them and all of their support.  Also the PTA and the Manchester Alliance deserve a big thank you for providing funding for the event.  I would also like to thank Heritage Restaurant in Whiting for helping us out this year with catering for the hospitality room.”

Hopefully, Manchester Middle School students came away from the event knowing that there is a caring network of adults and fellow students willing to encourage, inspire and ‘stand by them’ through the challenges of their adolescent years.