Rockville High School students were treated Friday to the “No Hate Tour,” which features BMX stars performing breathtaking tricks while delivering messages against bullying and overcoming obstacles.
A huge ramp was set up in the center of the gym and another against the wall which allowed BMX stars Russel Summerville, Zach Newman and Logan Place to perform gravity defying jumps and tricks. Three-time X Games gold medalist Trevor Meyer performed what is called flatland BMX. What it lacks in jumps, it makes up for in skill as Meyer demonstrated riding his bike from just about every position except the seat.
Photo caption: Rider Trevor Meyer, a three-time X Games gold medalist, performs flatland BMX Friday at Rockville High School as part of the No Hate Tour.
The program is sponsored by the Marine Corps and was free for Rockville High School.
A highlight of the program was RHS Assistant Principal Daniel Pichette and a Marine Corps sergeant serving as human obstacles for Summerville. They held up their arms to form a goal post and Summerville jumped right through the middle.
Sandra Zajac-Naylor, a library media specialist at Rockville High School, said the No Hate Tour provides great entertainment and inspiration about success derived from hard work and the important message against bullying.
Photo Caption: Rockville High School Assistant Principal Daniel Pichette and a Marine Corps sergeant are obstacles for rider Russel Summerville's jump.
“A lot of times the kids get to high school and we figure from middle school to high school they’ve matured so greatly that we forget the impact that bullying still has as they get older,” Zajac-Naylor said. “With social media we see cyber bullying. Not only are kids being bullied by people they don’t know but by people they may go to school with. This has an impact on them in getting them.”
Zajac-Naylor said she wanted students to hear that important message from adults other than the teachers they see each day who speak out against bullying.
“We have so many amazing people on staff at RHS and in town, the Vernon Rocks Coalition, work with our kids,” she said. “But the kids don’t always hear the message from outside the classroom, what it’s like to be bullied or cyberbullied. Everyone has a passion and everyone may be interested in something different. Accepting people for who they are and appreciating those differences is what makes us better humans.”
Photo caption: A relieved RHS Assistant Principal Daniel Pichette fist bumps rider Russel Summerville after he Summerville jumped over him.
Dan Sieg, a BMX performer on the tour whose role Friday was as master of ceremonies, said it’s important for young people to understand that the amazing things they see people achieve, especially online, was the result of hard work.
“They often get discouraged and think ‘I’m not that good yet.’” Seig said. “This message is really important in the sense that they need to hear that it does take time, it does take effort, sacrifice. When they see that, they start to relate to it. Then we tie that in with the no bullying message. Kids are going to give you a hard time, they’re not going to understand you, they will try to make fun of you, but it has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them. When the times get tough, focus on that thing you enjoy doing. Put your head down and block off the negative energy.”
Jaxon Sawyer, a 14-year-old freshman, liked what he saw and is inspired to do some more BMX riding.
“It was pretty cool and I want to learn some of those tricks,” he said.