“It could be worse” or “It’s not that bad” may be good things to stay to students. However, these are not easy to hear and accept when you’re facing a tough time or a difficult challenge. Instead, consider telling the student about another person who has experienced something even worse then what they’re going through. By giving the student a model, the student is much more likely to maintain the proper perspective.
In this video, I tell the story of Lt. Bobo and how this same technique helped me to maintain the right perspective in difficult times.
Author: Don Shomette
Don Shomette is a trainer, speaker, consultant, and owner of People are the Prize, a violence prevention company that helps people to prevent and survive a school attack. He has spent a lifetime working with police officers and principals and is consistently evaluated by those who attend his trainings as one of the best instructors ever. Don challenges, entertains, and helps school personnel to think of preventing violence in a new and positive way.
Don Shomette 
September 28, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Lt. Bobo was from Niagara Falls NY. As a student in the city we were told of his heroics soon after his death. The city was very proud of “their son” for his actions that day. Thank you for reminding me of values taught to me 50 years ago
September 28, 2016 at 7:19 pm
That’s fantastic! I was afraid I was the only guy that knew of him?? My city has as its son John Ripley, the hero of Dong Ha. Thanks for the comment…It made my day!