I’m not a Native American, and I don’t pretend to know what it’s like. But I do know this…

As a frequent guest speaker for Native American Tribes, my message has been proven to relate to everyone in the room. You can hear a pin drop because audiences of all ages can “see themselves” in my story. And when they make that connection, they apply it to their own lives.

I love being a guest speaker for Native American Youth Events because of my passion for preserving their culture and for helping all people overcome the obstacles they face. As a student, I experienced severe bullying at school and even at home with my own father. Thankfully one teacher stepped in and taught me how to become resilient and how to achieve better mental health. I learned that when I talked through my struggles with a trusted adult, I could finally break free from bullying and from thoughts of suicide. Even though I had been victimized in the past, I didn’t have to stay a victim forever. That was my choice all along. And over time, by talking it out it with a counselor, I broke free.

As a youth motivational speaker, Tom’s message takes students on a journey through his own life story – a normal “face in the crowd” kid who never struggled with drugs or alcohol, but instead lived with a victim mindset. Thankfully one teacher stepped in and helped him break free from the bullying cycle. Today, Tom travels America showing students and educators how to stand up to bullying and how to “BE THE CHANGE” on their campus.