Motivational speaker Brian Williams shows Soehl Middle School students how one simple act of giving can grow into life-changing opportunities for others
LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ --
Learning What Kindness Can Do
Kindness is not just a theme at Soehl Middle School. It is something students are learning to practice on purpose, one decision at a time.
On April 15, students packed the auditorium to explore how their everyday choices can create real change, as motivational speaker Brian Williams challenged them to “make the world a little better than yesterday.”
Throughout the assembly, students were pushed to think about more than just feeling inspired. They listened for the speaker’s main ideas, connected them to situations in their own lives, and considered how simple acts could shape their school culture. Instead of just hearing a story, they were invited to reflect on what kind of impact they want to have on others.
A Student Project That Grew Into a Movement
Williams centered his talk on a story from his college years. He described how he and a small group of classmates launched a shoe drive for children in need, starting with a bold goal of collecting 5,000 pairs in 15 days. As word spread, students from other schools joined in, and the effort grew into a larger community project that brought in more than 8,000 pairs of shoes.
He then asked students to think carefully about what those numbers meant in real life. In some communities overseas, he explained, a single pair of shoes can determine whether a child is allowed to attend school. That idea led many students to quietly reconsider what they might take for granted and to imagine what it would feel like to rely on someone else’s generosity just to get an education.
Seeing How One Gift Can Change a Life
One story drew a noticeable hush across the room. Williams described a student who once walked barefoot and could not attend school regularly. After receiving shoes, that child stayed in school, worked hard, and eventually went on to compete at the Olympic level. The example showed students how access, effort, and support can open doors that once seemed out of reach.
As the presentation continued, students leaned in, nodded along, and later shared their own takeaways with classmates and teachers. Some talked about being more intentional about including others. Others mentioned wanting to start small service projects or simply being kinder in day-to-day interactions. Their reactions showed that they were not only moved by the story, but also beginning to set their own goals for how they will show up for one another at Soehl.
Soehl Students Plan Their Own Next Steps
The assembly also reflected the district’s focus on creating learning experiences that are engaging, challenging, and centered on students. By using a real, student-led project as the basis for discussion, the visit gave Soehl students a chance to think critically about responsibility, empathy, and the long-term impact of their choices. It paired a positive school climate message with clear expectations for how students can contribute to that climate.
By the end, Williams’s closing challenge felt less like a slogan and more like a next step. “Make the world a little better than yesterday,” he told them, leaving students with a simple, memorable goal they can return to in the classroom, in the hallways, and beyond. This is Linden. This is who we are: students growing, leading, and learning that even the smallest decisions can help someone else move forward.