The entire student body of West Ranch High School turned out in two separate assemblies Tuesday to listen to Davey Muise, lead singer for the  Boston-based alternative rock band Vanna, during “Dude, Be Nice” week at the campus.

Muise shared his life that started as the abandoned baby of drug addicts, through his years of depression and rejection, only to learn to overcome his adversities by using those difficult times as inspiration to achieve his dreams.

“When I was in high school, I wish there was someone to tell me that I wasn’t alone in my problems and that with a little bit of work towards a dream and goal that that dream can essentially overcome your problems,” Muise said.  “Through music and the band, youth and kids have opened up my eyes, and I’ve met so many amazing kids who have used music and the arts to overcome problems in their own lives.”

Dude, Be Nice is a campus-wide effort created by West Ranch ASB Director Todd Arrowsmith to show kindness between students, the staff and the community.  It is making students aware that simply being nice to someone can change their whole world.

“I feel like in today’s society we focus on downfalls so much and I’m really here to lift these kids up,” Muise said.  “Downfalls don’t win games, they don’t win anything.  It doesn’t necessarily matter to me what grades they get, it’s how they treat each other and how they treat themselves.  That’s really what I’m here for.”

“Amazing response,” Arrowsmith said when asked what the reaction to Davey Muise has been on campus.  “Kids are already asking when we can get him back to speak to us.”