Corey Dewey
West Hernando Middle School
Spring Hill, Florida

Corey Dewey is a 12-year-old student at West Hernando Middle School in Spring Hill, Florida. He participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won an Experience Music Project prize pack.

The Character's Cool Contest was a national contest for middle school students to help stop school violence and to encourage the practice of ethical behavior. Participants completed an online survey about their experiences in the aftermath of Sept 11th, bullying and school violence, and the ethical behavior and character qualities needed to reduce school violence.

When asked about the first emotion he felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Corey felt stunned. "At first I didn't believe it, but then I saw it on TV and I watched in horror as the building fell. I was heartbroken, as was everybody else in our school. I hope that they get what they deserve for those senseless acts of horror that left some families with one or more less family members."

Corey's parents and school both talked to him about the events of September 11th. According to Corey, West Hernando Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence. He thinks it's important for young people to learn how to manage their anger and resolve conflicts peacefully, and that it's important to be respectful of others, even when you disagree. Corey thinks that there are certain character qualities people need to have to reduce violence: Responsibility, Cooperation, Tolerance, Self Control.

Corey thinks about and tries to practice these character qualities. "When people say things to me that I don't like, I just try to stay calm because I know that I am better than a bully, because they make fun of other people because they are not satisfied with themselves."

Corey is interested in motocross bowling and admires his father and his favorite teacher, Mr. Pinder, who teaches math.

When asked where he where he would like to travel to, Corey would go to Australia so he could scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. When he grows up, Corey wants to be "a professional bowler, because I am really good at bowling."

Corey is funny, smart, organized and active. His piece of advice for other students across the United States about stopping school violence is that it will make the punishment worse, and violence should not happen in this country.