Collins Elementary Student Wins 1st Prize with Bullying Essay

Collins Elementary School student Dylan Radley's first-prize essay in the Hillsborough County 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Competition titled, "Brawlers and Bawlers," comes from years of first-hand experience being the target of bullies. 

The sandy-haired, bespectacled fourth-grader, with an intelligence that far surpasses his years, admits that he's been bullied for being too smart, enjoying reading and computers, and wearing glasses. 

"Did you know that one out of every four kids is bullied in America? That means if you put four of us in a reading group together, one of us has been bullied," said Radley, "Since I have experience with this, I knew I needed to bring awareness to the topic." 

Radley took first place in the Tropicana Public Speaking area contest held at Strawberry Crest High School Jan. 26, and won first place again at the district competition on Feb. 3.

"I was very happy to win," he said, "I did a lot of research on my subject and, once I felt I had a good grasp on the information I wanted to deliver, I worked on effective ways of presenting my material by watching President Barack Obama deliver a speech. In watching him, I learned ways to emphasize, enunciate and pause for effect."

Radley will recite his prize-winning speech before school board members on April 16 at the downtown district office.

A paragraph from his speech reads, "So what makes you a target? I certainly am. I mean look at me, for instance. I may as well be wearing a bulls-eye. I don't play sports, I like to read, I like computers, I get good grades, and I've got these fantastic glasses. But you can also wear the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, look the wrong way, be too smart, not smart enough, have a rumor spread about you, or just have the wrong person not like you that day."  

But Radley also presents a solution.

"We are surrounded by how to change this problem," stated Radley. "Look at the words printed all around our school. Have you noticed them? Words like tolerance, kindness and respect. Those words actually mean something and if we all pay attention to them, we may actually be able to make a difference." 

The excitement over Radley's win is contagious at Collins Elementary School, 12424 Summerfield Blvd., Riverview. 

A friend walking down the hall pats Radley on the back and says, "Good job, man." The school marquis displays for all to see,"Congratulations, Dylan."

Radley's fourth-grade teacher, Melissa Brown, states, "Dylan has had his own experiences with bullying. He's an amazing boy with the ability to take a negative experience and turned it into such a positive thing. I'm so proud to have him as a student."

Collins Assistant Principal Teri Madill agrees and adds, "We are so proud that Dylan is bringing to light such a difficult topic as bullying. He's a wonderful example of courage."

Radley takes it all in stride. For now he is concentrating on eradicating bullying in schools. He also has big plans for the future. When asked what colleges he'll be considering in eight years, he states, "For now I think I'll go to Harvard."

It certainly seems a possibility.