Students Get Taught How To Find Their 'MOJO'

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
October 10, 2012 5:52 PM


A national bullying presentation made a stop in Slayton, Minn. Wednesday. Travis Brown, or Mr. MOJO is a nationally renowned motivational speaker. He talked to students in fifth-grade through 12th-grade about how to stop bullying on his ‘Taking A Stand Against Bullying Tour.’

At MCC Central, bullying is something school administrators want to be proactive about.

So to fix the problem they brought in someone who they believe has a message that's bound to get students' attention.

"Started searching and Mr. MOJO seemed like the person who was going to come in and shake up our students,” said Amy Woldt, MCC Community Education Director.

Travis Brown, also known as Mr. MOJO to students across the nation, has been touring for three years speaking about how they can find their MOJO.

"Its that universal call to action, that battle cry that you can count on me. I will step up, I will step in to make a positive difference,” said Travis Brown.
     
He said students should understand even though they may not be bullying someone, standing by and watching it happen, can be just as bad.

“We created a whole program, operation 'MOJO,' around making it more fun and cool to step up instead of standing by,” said Brown.

Eden Bengtson, a senior at MCC was bullied through Middle School. She has ADHD and said kids just didn’t understand.

"I would get home from school and my heart would just ache. And I would just feel very disappointed and I wouldn't want to go to school, and I didn't have many friends,” said Eden Bengtson.

Bengtson said she is proud of her school for bringing in Mr. MOJO and hopes her fellow classmates learn a lesson she already has through her years of dealing with bullies.

“Realize the people who are bullying you may have problems of their own,” Bengtson said.  “They may struggle also. So just keep your head up and talk to people about it.”

And for Mr. MOJO his biggest goal is to have students leave with a new self worth. He said it is the key to standing up to bullies.

“No matter what people say to them, no matter how much they attack them, the challenges they go through- it doesn’t change their value or worth,” said Brown.

Wednesday night Brown talked with parents’ of MCC Central Students. He said parents, or guardians need to understand what they can do to help. Brown also said they need to realize how their actions at home have an effect on how their children act at school.