Moments after award winning singer/songwriter Jared Campbell stepped onto the stage at Kelley School February 5th, the auditorium erupted in cheering and applause.
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“What’s up Kelley School? Are you good?” Campbell roared.
His zany salutation touched off a wave of non-stop excitement among the third, fourth and fifth graders and staff gathered for the morning concert.
And the loud cheering and applause didn’t let up at all during the upbeat, nearly hour-long program.
And why not?
The affable, kooky, and very popular children’s musician didn’t disappoint from the moment he opened his mouth to greet the youngsters while he crooned three, upbeat, catchy songs punctuated with an engaging narrative and video and until he bade them good-bye after the fast-paced, high-energy program.
The children’s over-the-top admiration for Campbell’s rock star like appeal concluded with several young fans coming up to the stage to shake hands or receive a fist bump from him before they returned to their classrooms.
The whole thing was just plain cool.
But there was a wonderfully serious side to Campbell’s antics. He laces his humor with straight up inspirational quotes and anecdotes about overcoming obstacles, bullying, respect, leadership and maintaining a positive outlook each day no matter what life brings.
He exhorted his audience to be “history makers” and then he told them how that would happen by each and every Kelley schooler:
1. Being themselves, the persons “they are meant to be.”
2. Never giving up. “The moment you quit, you stop making history,” he said.
3. Learning to be a leader. “A real leader is someone who knows how to take care of the people around them. Kelley School is your leadership training ground.”
Addressing the first point, Campbell shared a digital presentation with photos and quotes from famous people as he sang “Make History.” Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjOHyQvl8VQ&list=RDEMLnT1h7DaAAhlBAkmukOP1g&index=1
After he sang, he asked students if they could name people in the video and hands popped up all over the auditorium and most of their answers were correct.
Campbell noted one of the people in the video, the late Steve Jobs who best known for being a pioneer in the personal computer world and co-founder of Apple, Inc. was possibly someone many there might not recognize.
“I love this quote of his,’’ the musician said pointing to Job’s picture and his quote on the screen: “Your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
Campbell, the father of four children, told students these are the years of their lives when they become much more aware of people around them, especially how they dress, talk, wear their hair, hobbies etc.
“Subconsciously you start to think to be cool and accepted you’ve gotta be like everyone else,’’ he said. “But the more you focus on everyone else, who do you forget about? Yourself.
“Steve Jobs wasn’t built to play football, but to build iPhones,” he continued, telling students that everyone in the room has different interests, gifts and dreams they should not only feel proud of, but let nothing stop them from pursuing.
To make his second point about not giving up in the face of obstacles, Campbell shared how his oldest son Max received a disappointing blow when he and his fourth-grade friends _ who
all were Minor Little Leaguers tried out for the Majors team and Max didn’t make the cut while the rest of his friends did.
While he was initially and understandably crushed, he thought it over and told his dad that he was going to go back to the Minors and give it “110 percent.”
“He didn’t quit. It made him work even harder. And he was the first fifth grader to be picked for the sixth-grade All-Star team. He went from the bottom to the top. Don’t give up.”
To illustrate his third point about learning to be a leader, Campbell instructed the children they wouldn’t get there by bossing others around, but by caring for them.
“Martin Luther King led by caring for people. Every day, when you walk into Kelley School you can serve people around you. If everyone here did that this wouldn’t feel like just a school, but like family,’’ he said and then sang “What If?” Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzMlNmR16WM
He sadly recalled how a girl in a New Jersey school left the assembly crying after he sang that same song, and she read the accompanying lyrics on the video screen.
When asked by her teacher the reason for her reaction, she said the way she was treated at school by her peers didn’t feel at all like family. She was not physically bullied, but verbally.
Campbell said if he could have asked the students who had maligned her their cruel words, they likely would have said “we’re just joking.”
Your words can make people feel amazing or awful,’’ he said very seriously.
Campbell, in rock star like zeal, concluded the dynamic program with the obvious question: “Do you guys like video games? to which they screamed “Yes.”
He prefaced his last song “Video Game” by pointing out how frustrating it is when you play video games, make a mistake and must start all over.
“In life, we all make mistakes. Let’s say yesterday you said or did something or acted in a way you shouldn’t,’’ Campbell said. “If you act that same way today, it means you haven’t learned by it.”
Then Campbell gave it his all as he belted out “Video Game” and the excited audience cheered LOUDLY as they listened and watched the animated video. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOTwAdJeQlA
Finally, Campbell asked the students if they had a good time, and they screamed “Yes.”
Kelley School was thrilled to welcome Jared Campbell back!” Kelley School Assistant Principal Christina Sullivan said after the concert. “His incredible talent and powerful message inspired our entire community, bringing everyone together in an engaging and unforgettable experience.”
Students agreed. Here a just a couple of reactions afterward.
4th grader Blaze Crisp:
"The show was fire! The video game song was so exciting! I got excited to hear all the new songs. I want him to come back next year!"
3rd grader Tanner Vanderwall:
"The video game song was the best one. I'm going to play him (Jared) on Alexa."
Campbell also performed for PreK through second graders at Lincoln School Jan. 5th.
“We were so excited to welcome Jared Campbell. His performance was highly engaging and interactive,” Principal Kari Hamelinck said. “Our students were able to clap, sing along and even play their air guitars. All of the songs support our PRIDE language focusing on safe, responsible, respectful and working together in a community.” Learn more about Jared Campbell here: https://jaredcampbell.com/