Kevin Curwick, 17, fights cyber bullying with kindness on Twitter. Phot courtesy of The Guardian Express

Kevin Curwick, the 17 year old football team captain at Osseo High School in Minnesota is changing lives through Twitter. His mission is to combat cyber bullying by complimenting classmates using the same medium used to bully many of them. The unexpected upshot of his actions is that it’s catching on.

In a world longing for the positive, Curwick believes a kind word can go a long way. He may be right. Since opening his Twitter account, @OsseoNiceThings, Curwick has heard from people as way away from Minnesota as Connecticut, England and Australia.

Knowing how some of his classmates had been picked on through another Twitter page, Curwick started posting messages of encouragement, complimenting them on the strengths and talents. He remained anonymous, never letting his friends know he was behind the kind words that were lifting their spirits.

It was after an inquiry from KARE 11 that Curwick decided to take his alter ego public. It was then he learned his actions had instigated a movement of sorts. The Twin Cities area is now flush with “nice” pages and they movement is spreading across the country.

Recognition in the form of complimentary tweets has been received by Curwick from teachers, politicians and even form potential colleges. Celebrities jumped on the bandwagon after Curwick’s cause made it as a headline on the Huffington Post. A phone interview with Ran Seacrest and a tweet from swimsuit supermodel Brooklyn Decker followed. Still, Curwick prefers to remain out of the spotlight.

Senior Megan Nivison believes it only takes one person to initiate that change and she sees that person as Curwick. She says what he’s done has boosted the confidence of others. She personally saw his work in action when a friend got bashed and he posted something “amazingly true” in response that saved the situation.

Curwick will be the first to tell you he’s not a standout on the football team but if you check out his @OsseoNiceThings page you’ll see that he is a standout in other ways and in people’s lives. He likes being part of a lasting movement rather than being just a news flash.

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