Jon Pritikin to bring anti-bullying message to area schools
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jon Pritikin of Sacramento, Calif., used to be a kid who ate lunch alone in school. A few days ago he was speaking to a crowd of 900,000 in India telling young people they have it in them to succeed.
Pritikin and his wife founded the organization Feel the Power in 1994.
Pritikin made it his life's work to make a difference in the lives of those who might also be eating lunch alone, hoping to one day fit in.
He tours the world talking to schools in anti-bullying assemblies and drawing people's attention through dazzling feats of strength and next week he will speak to several schools in southeastern Illinois.
"I talk about being a hero," Pritikin said.
Pritikin grew up with a learning disability and speech impediment which he continues to struggle with. He was picked on and bullied and then blossomed during his teenage years, met the woman who would be his wife and put an emphasis on physical fitness.
He knows many who are bullied do not become success stories. The vast majority of school shooters were kids who were picked on in schools. Some commit suicide.
"I will hit a little bit on suicide," he said.
One of his stories involves a suicide note of a student at a school where Pritikin was slated to hold an assembly.
"The note he left behind said, 'I can't take the teasing any more,'" Pritikin said.
Pritikin said he wished he could have spoken at that school a few weeks earlier. His message might have helped that student.
Another story involves his daughter.
"I showed her the tree where I ate lunch by myself every day. She said, 'Daddy, I would have eaten lunch with you,'" Pritikin said.
He said those words caused him to cry and when he speaks he at elementary schools he tells them it is not right for kids to eat alone.
Some young people become depressed from bullying. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to fill the void created by the lack of a supportive social circle.
Pritikin says despite his challenges he always remained optimistic.
"Somebody said, 'It's amazing that through everything you've gone through you are not an angry person,'" Pritikin said.
He says he does not get angry and has never been in a fight.
"Someone told me, 'Circumstances don't make your character. They reveal your character,'" Pritikin said.
While Pritikin's message is one of support and motivation, he begins his seminar's with a sort of positive shock value. Pritikin in 2009 made the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records for rolling two frying pans into one.
He bends metal bars in his hands, rolls frying pans, breaks blocks, tears apart phone books and exhibits other strongman feats to grab kids' attentions.
"The feats of strength I do are a tool to get people's attention. I hope kids won't remember the guy who rolled up frying pans. I know they will, but I would hope they remember more than that," Pritikin said.
After a week in Southern Illinois, Pritikin goes on tour to Budapest; Israel; London; Aman, Jordan, and Dahook, Iraq.
"All the funds from this week will go toward the trip overseas. All school assemblies go to help students overseas," Pritikin said.
Pritikin's Web site is http://feelthepower.org
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DeNeal receives e-mail at mailto:bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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