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BE STRONG - A Music Video
Posted: 6/9/2011
Hello! Me and a few friends have worked on a video to promote "Be Strong" and standing up to bullying.
"The truth is, some of us are strange sometimes, but no one deserves to be pushed around for what they like, or how they look, or what they believe in. My goal is to provide hope and strength and love to anyone and everyone who needs someone to lean on. Life is short so you've got to love what you're given and never take anything for granted."
By: Evan Roy
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Notes:
Hear more of Evan's music at his website.
Richie's Story
Posted: 6/9/2011
My name is Richard Meehan and I would like to share a short story about how bullying has affected our family…
I have a brother, Joshua that is 18 months younger than I am. He was picked on since he started school. He was picked on because he was shorter then other kids, wore glasses and he could not really pronounces his R's correctly. We are 2 grades apart in school and always rode the bus together. I didn't really know how much he was being teased because it didn't ever happen around me and Josh never said anything.
This one morning when he was in 2nd and I was in 4th grade we had just gotten off the bus and was heading into theschool, for some reason, I don't remember why Josh was close to me when we were walking, this rock came from in front of us and I was able to push Josh away from it. The rock hit me in the chest, if it would have hit my brother it would have got him right in his face. I was winded and didn't even know what happened until after the fact.
Come to find out Joshua was being bullied on the bus and during recess since he was in kindergarten. It started with words then by the time he was in 2nd grade it had progressed to being physical. Having me stick up for him was not the best thing for him either because kids only harassed him more about having his brother fight his battles.
My mom started driving us to school and spoke many times to the school about having Josh not attend recess because that is where it was the worst. The school did nothing about it. My mom got a call from school once that Josh had been in a fight and had broke his new glasses, my mom took him to the hospital and he had a concussion. We still don't know the true story of what really happened that day.
I told my brother to just start sticking up for himself and to fight back. I mean it is hard to watch your brother being picked on and not to be able to be there all the time to help, you want them to defend themselves. RIGHT! Well I am not sure if it was right or wrong I still think it was right you can only be picked on for so long before you will crack. Josh did start defending himself and he was good at it, he liked to fight and took every chance he could to do so. He started by taking on one boy, then two, he once took on five boys at the same time. By the time he was in 3rd grade he had turned into the bullier. He was even suspended for a day but he didn't care because he at least had people noticing him and it wasn't because he was the small kid it was because he beat up the big kid.
My mom thinks that being the bully is one of the worst things that came from this my little brother went from this cute little cuddly kid that would not even hurt an ant to being filled with hatred. Our play fights went from play to the real thing he didn't know how to play that way anymore he couldn't control himself, we had to stop that and we us to love rolling around on the floor together.
My mother started homeschooling us she said because she wasn'thappy with the school but since she has said that she was afraid that Josh might hurt someone.
It has been four years since we were in public school and my brother still has a really aggressive side to kids around his age and older which my mom attributes to the treatment he received in school from his tormentors. He is great with little kids and adults, I think it is strange but I think it is because he doesn't feel threatened by them. My brother will be home-schooled through 8th grade and will go to high-school in a different town than where this all happened. I don't really know how Josh will do at the high-school because he doesn't take crap from anyone anymore.
I really don't worry about him taken care of himself to much anymore because he could kick my butt.
Josh never really had any friends when he was younger because he was always made fun of. He doesn't really have any friends know because he is so mean and everyone is scared of him. Of course no one remembers what happened to make him be so tough except his family.
You see there are two sides to this bulling thing and you never know what might happen. My brother choose to fight back but some may not have that in them and decide to give up. I can see how bulling hurts all involved obviously the one being bullied but also the bullier, once you start you don't want it to be the way it was before.
Unless you are the one being bullied you don't really know who is doing what to whom as long as its not you who really cares… RIGHT… well that needs to change everyone should care. Unfortunately we are human and it is in our nature to be this way always trying to be better then someone else.
I wish I could say it would be different but there is always going to be hatred in the world. I can say that I will not ever be a bully, I will not stand for anyone being bullied around me either.
By: Richard Meehan
Notes:
I had the choose to go back to public school myself but decided against it. It is not for me there is way to much to do in the world then deal with all the drama of a high-school. I have plenty of friends from the high-school and listening to what happens there am glad I was given the choose. I started acting as part of my schooling and have since been in a few movies. I was just recently on the set of "Broken Silence" a film that is slated for lifetime latter this year that deals with high-school bulling, sexting and suicide. If you would like to learn when the film will be release follow my facebook fanpage.
My thoughts are with all the families that have to deal with this and the side effects that stick around for alot longer if not forever.
Parker's Story
Posted: 6/7/2011
PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington, MN 55437
10 March, 2011
Dear Julie,
Enclosed is a check for $437.48 for the National Bullying Prevention Center. This donation is made possible because of the efforts made by our daughter, Parker. Parker is 13 years old. Please use this donation to help support your bullying prevention program on her behalf.
Here is a little overview of Parker and her most recent project for the NBPC. In December, her school had an anti-bullying assembly. Parker was very affected by the information she learned that day and decided she needed to do more to help stop bullying in this country. She researched a lot of information and statistics and found your program on the PACER Center website. She decided she was going to dedicate the month of February to earn money for the NBPC by selling wristbands and giving 100% of the cost to your program. She designed and ordered the wristbands herself.
On one side they read, "Every 7 minutes" to remind kids that this is an ongoing problem every single day, and on the other side they read, "Stand Up," which empowers young kids to stand up against bullying if they are targets, and to always stand up for others who are.
Parker created a display board using facts and coloring pages on your website and got overwhelming support by our school principals. She sold them at afterschool events and at school conferences and had great success. She helped educate people who bought wristbands by telling them some of the alarming bullying statistics and was surprised by the many bullying stories shared with her by students and parents. This project really opened her eyes and the eyes of others to the dangers of bullying.
Thank you for all your hard work. We know that through programs like yours, we will bring an end to bullying once and for all.
Sincerely,
By: Annie
Taylor's Story
Posted: 6/7/2011
My name is Taylor Rose and I'm almost 17 years old and will be a Junior in high school. I enjoy traveling, shopping, reading, playing tennis, and being with friends and family. I attended elementary and middle schoolin Wayzata, MN. Part way through 8th grade I moved out east because of my mom's job. It was there I attended an Eastern Prep School where I was a victim of bullying. My bullying experience overshadowed any good experiences I had at the Prep School.
I have spoken at several bullying events, and have contributed to a monthly newsletter on bullying. Bullying is a topic I am passionate about, which is why I decided to tell my story in hopes of helping others in similar situations.
By: Taylor Rose
Bullying Happens in Other Countries
Posted: 5/31/2011
Hey,
I'm Aive. I live in Estonia, it's far, far away from the U.S. I just want to share my story with you.
My story starts when I was going in 5 grade and end 8 grade. My one classmate said me whale, this time I was thinking that maybe he will stop and he never say something like this. But next day he said me whale again. Month later all classmates said me whale (2-3 persons don't say anything).Next month they say, I have to go away our class, I have to put myself in fire etc. I ignore them, I got hurt.
Next year (6 grade), they said me a lot of bad words. This boy who start to say me whale, he turned me against the wall, I could not breathe and I had bruises. I talked my mother, we went headteacher, but headteacher did not do anything.
Next year (7 grade), they all (classmates, and the other persons) said me bad, throw me branches, rocks and mud, my clothes were dirty. I went home crying, my own uncle daughter look this thing beside, and laugh. I cry everyday, and nobody can't do anything about it. They blamed me in everything, when they got into trouble, it was my fault.So I was this person who every human can say everything. They didn't leave me alone even home. If I was going out, they said me so nasty things. The other people said me bad to, not only my own classmates.
8th grade, they say me bad, but not so much.
9th grade (this year), they don't say me anything, im like the others in our class. I don't know why they hated me those three years, my one classmates said they had a reason, but I don't know the reason, I dont to them anything, but thank god, everything is fine now.
I have to appreciate my best friend who stayed by my side even hard times, they said names to my best friend too, but not that much.
When all this happened, then I once thought I'd go and do a suicide, but then I was wondering that my death won't change anything, maybe they feel sorry for a one day, but maybe they won't feel sorry.
I know I am somebody in future, but they get this all back, all this pain. I suffer bullying, I have scars inside. My classmates still do not like me, but I don't even care. I am who I am and I'm proud.
If I see that someone bullying the other, I'm going to protect him/her.
By: Aive
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Taking Action
Posted: 5/26/2011
June 9, 2010
PACER Center
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55437
Dear Sir or Madam:
My name is Clayton. I'm helping stop bullying in my school. I am going to give you $5. Bullying is mean and it needs to be stopped. You can tell the bully to stop, or go tell the teacher, or tell your mom and dad.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
By: Clayton
Locked Alone
Posted: 5/26/2011
I'm scared of what there is to come,
from heartache and neglect.
Why should I be afraid of it?
I have the love I get.
I don't know why I'm scared of it,
I have my mom and dad.
They love me and the comfort me,
Why do I feel so sad?
I do not want to come to school,
I'm scared I'll see them there,
they laugh and talk behind my back,
It's just not very fair.
The laughing and the bullying,
it has to stop right now.
That is a choice I have to make,
all by myself, alone.
I have no one to turn to now,
I fight the pain inside.
I'm scared I might go way too far,
My life is full of lies.
I have support right by my side,
they love me and they care.
I have to call out on my own,
no pain, no strife to bare.
There is a person that I like,
She helps me make it through.
She cares for me and understands,
what I am going through.
She comforts me and hugs me tight,
when I am crying hard.
I pray to God for her to know,
What's really going on.
I cut my arms with razor blades,
to dull the pain inside,
but that can only last so long,
I don't wanna be alive.
I cover up the bleeding scars,
cause no one understands.
It doesn't hurt, it just feels good,
I cover them with bands.
I do not know where I can turn,
so I can feel again.
I'm full of sadness, hate, regret,
Why can't I say 'I can'?
I cry myself to sleep at night,
I wipe away the tears.
I always have to be so strong,
I have so many fears.
Why don't I stand up for myself,
they think they draw a laugh.
Inside I'm crying out for help,
My life is worth just half.
I'm pounding on the walls so hard,
but no one seems to hear.
I want to get out very bad,
I'm trapped inside my fears.
I need you and I know you're there,
I just need some advice.
To make this issue go away,
so I don't take my life.
I pray someday I will be free,
no longer walk alone.
I am determined to get there,
no longer locked alone.
By: Laura T.
Embarassed
Posted: 5/26/2011
Some kids are bullied but are embarassed to talk about it. My parents told me it was probably my fault that i did something mean, but I didn't. I tend to be quiet and nice to everyone but still people are mean to me. I wish someone could help me, I don't know what to do.
By: Anonymous
Too Scared
Posted: 5/26/2011
People are either too scared to get involved or ignore it, kids and adults.
By: Anonymous
I Survived
Posted: 5/26/2011
I survived my bullying experience. Grew up and became free.
However, during the time i was bullied, it was hell. I contemplated suicide, running away, thoughts of violence. I just wanted to be free. It was the worst experience ever. Even now I'm not a confident person.
Anything i can do to help others get through it, I'm up for it.
By: Anonymous
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