“We’re all writing a story here. You’re all going to be a character in someone else’s book. Are you going to be the extra that just stands by or are you going to be the hero that saves the day? You can’t be the villain,” the words of former professional hockey player Peter Leboutillier rang through DuBois Theatre.

Mr. Leboutillier’s message for the students of Blair Academy was simple: Vulnerability is not weakness. During his all-school presentation, he shared how being open with others, and having that vulnerability reciprocated, fosters the deep connections we all need to build a safe community. But for Mr. Leboutillier, that wasn’t always the case.

At the height of his career, he felt pressured to be someone he was not. Soon, he was known as the player getting in the most fights in the league and had no outlet to express how he was truly feeling. This led to risky behaviors outside of hockey as he tried to numb the pain he was hiding “behind the mask.”

“When we teach people they can’t be emotional and must remain strong, we don’t create warriors,” Mr. Leboutillier explained. “We create silence. I was living in an isolated nightmare; I needed support and connection, but I didn’t know how to ask.”

He eventually found that support in his wife, and he encouraged students to reach out and find that trusted individual in their own lives. Over time, he built the courage to open up to other players, creating a supportive community where they felt safe to share their experiences and emotions.

“Safety unlocks vulnerability,” Mr. Leboutillier continued, “and vulnerability is the doorway to trust.”

Mr. Leboutillier spoke at Blair through the organization “I Have the Right To,” a nonprofit serving as a hub for middle and high school students, parents and educators seeking information, support and avenues of action against sexual assault. Before the presentation, senior leaders gathered for a workshop on how to best support and lead their community by speaking up and stepping in when they see problematic behavior. After Mr. Leboutillier and Program Director Karen Udall addressed the entire school, classes broke out into smaller group sessions to continue the conversation about the power of our words, consent, impact versus intent, bullying, peer pressure and healthy relationships.

Two years ago, “I Have the Right To” co-founders Susan and Alexander Prout visited Blair for a Society of Skeptics lecture to educate and empower the community with the goal of inspiring students to be change makers and amplifying support for survivors.

“When you speak up, action occurs. Then others speak up and awareness increases,” Mr. Leboutillier concluded in his presentation. “This creates societal change.”

As Blair students reflected on his words in small groups, the message was clear: Lasting change begins with the courage to speak, listen and lead with vulnerability.