Motivational speaker Mykee Fowlin demonstrated the importance of self-acceptance throughout adolescence and life to freshmen and sophomores on Nov. 13 during an assembly in the gym.

Fowlin, a psychologist, actor and poet, said he wanted his audience to become more open-minded. Through a number of skits and impersonations, he showed the fallibility of the image. He assumed several wildly different personalities, from a stereotypical jock to a little girl, to disprove common racial and gender-based stereotypes. Admitting his own struggles with mental illness, Fowlin taught students the hardships of healing by using his personal experiences. He also stressed how both kids and adults struggle when expressing their true selves.

“I’m trying to explain the masks we wear aren’t all of us,” Fowlin said.

    He emphasized the high value of diversity and the lack of acceptance among students through a number of skits of teenagers from different backgrounds. For instance, he impersonated a young girl discussing the innate differences between boys and girls to her therapist. 

  “We all accept that we’re all different, but we’re raised to hate these differences,” Fowlin said. “Who is supposed to teach us not to?”

Fowlin expressed the significance of the adventure rather than the destination by sharing personal struggles with mental illness and, more than anything, wanted his audience to know that they are not alone. 

“Part of the journey I want you to hear: What is your story?” he said.

Some students who attended said they enjoyed the creative way Fowlin presented his ideas through an array of sketches.

“I thought it was an interesting way to portray a positive, kind message,” sophomore Samara Schiffman said.

Many kids said the concepts of acceptance and encouragement Fowlin presented were necessary for young people to hear.

“It was very intriguing and entertaining, but still got across a strong message,” freshman Skye Grimes said. 

“It was eye-opening and important to hear,” freshman Tyler Kostick said.