For the bullied, bullies, and bystanders: This mom has a plan
When Shadi Pourkashef takes the stage at elementary school auditoriums, students know she’s there to talk about being kind, stopping bullying, and understanding others. So it might be surprising to them that she begins by asking what they think she does outside of her presentations.
The kids guess all kinds of things: “You’re a lawyer.” “You’re a teacher.” “You make drinks at Starbucks.”
Then Ms. Pourkashef shows a photo of herself leading an orchestra and explains that she is a composer for movies and commercials, a piano teacher, and a conductor.
The kids are amazed. “You couldn’t tell all that just by looking at me, could you?” she asks them.
And that’s the heart of the message that she brings from her
