Becoming Your Own Role Model - High School Guest Speaker

I’m Not a Monster - How I Became My Own Role Model

I’m Not a Monster - How I Became My Own Role Model is designed for high school students and / or youth centres.

Matt Vapor shares his experiences of a chaotic home-life, educational disengagement, youth violence, crime and gang culture***. He opens up about the effects of this lifestyle and how long it has taken to regain control of his life. Primarily, Matt focuses on how a lack of positive role models hindered his development and how he filled that void with others viewed him. That he was “a bad kid”, “a monster” or “a thug”.

Matt uses the reality of his experiences to bring an honest discussion to teens who are, or know of someone who is, experiencing similar behaviours.

Matt discusses how he became his own role model, discovering his true personality that was hidden behind his behaviour. Additionally, it explains how to develop positive qualities for those without positive role models.

*** These behaviours are not glorified in any way, nor are specific incidences mentioned. They’re used as an honest and educational tool while discussing the realities of these behaviours. Please see Educator Notes for more information.

  • Challenge student’s beliefs about themselves, their past behaviours and their future

    Learn we’re allowed to regret our past actions and behaviour, but past actions don’t define us.

    Understand that we can change and foster positive qualities within ourselves

  • Domestic Abuse

    Educational Disadvantage

    Violence

    Homelessness

    Gangs

    Mental Health

    Self Belief and Self Thought

    What Other’s Have Said vs How We Feel

  • High School Students

    Young Adults

  • 45 - 90 minutes to meet your timing requirements.

  • In Person

  • If your event has a fundraising component, please tell us in advance so we can help with your fundraising efforts.

  • Hi fellow educators,

    Thank you for your interest in this talk. In these notes I’m going to run through some important points regarding this unique guest speaking session.

    This presentation is designed for at-risk students and may not be suitable for your cohort, please read the notes below on how the topics are discussed. In some instances, topics may be omitted.

    I’m willing to work with any programs you have in place to make sure this talk reinforces your learning outcomes.

    If we’re discussing the suitability of the topics for your cohort, please be mindful that this is a lived experience product and reflects my life and experiences.

    Here’s a very brief rundown of how the topics of youth violence, crime and gang culture are discussed in this talk:

    Youth Violence & Crime:

    In the absence of positive reinforcement, what fills the void is rhetoric that we’re bad, monsters or thugs. Children who’re at risk, like all children, believe what they’re told, which eventually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I discuss how I clung onto the negatives instead of those that saw positives in me. And how hard, yet rewarding, it’s been to become the good person I wanted to be deep down, later in life.

    Gang culture :

    Discusses the allure of gangs. The need for greater belonging. Acts as a “replacement” family for some of us who haven’t had that feeling. However, ultimately gangs do not fulfill our true needs.

    Examines the reality that it removes individual agency and impairs individual decision making. Inhibits our growth by masking who we are as individuals. Stops us from independently assessing and choosing our own actions.

Let's explore how we can work together
Close-up photo of Matt Vapor, wearing a black racing jacket with shiny accents.

Becoming Your Own Role Model - High School Guest Speaker is written and delivered by Matt Vapor