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Little Miss Sunshine
Posted: 5/28/2014
The first single off Caleb’s upcoming album, “Little Miss Sunshine,” is a prophetic anthem addressing bullying in the most soft, sensitive, and profound of ways. Written with thoughts of his 8 year old niece in mind, meaningful lyrics like “You don’t have to be bombshell beauty queen blonde Barbie girls like all the girls you’re looking up to” and “Never try to be somebody you’re not,” merge with addictive melodies and seamlessly pair a powerful message to people of all ages.
“I wanted to write an anti-bullying song specifically for my niece. She is 8 years old and a bit of an odd ball similar to me. I thought about her and others I know when I wrote the song and wanted to stress the fact that it’s important to be yourself no matter what. You might go through some tough stuff as a kid, but I think after facing that kind of adversity, when you're older, it makes you cool.” - Caleb Hawley
By: Caleb Hawley
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Words Hurt
Posted: 5/27/2014
I'm 15, and to say my bullying has let up is a complete lie. See at first I thought it was just kids trying to hear me talk, I was a shy 5 year old at the time so everything they did hurt a lot but I didn't breath a word about it, thinking it would stop. It didn't it got worse and soon I started coming home and locking myself in my room and crying. It's weird how every word and everything they ever said and did to me stays locked in my head. I was soon told I had depression which lead to my social anxiety. I never had a friend until 7th grade it was so lonely I had no idea how to treat a friend. But I actually left school early for a whole month, every day I would leave early and the school didn't think anything about it. So when I came clean to the school, they played it off as it was kids having fun. But how was this fun, they always cornered me and yelled names at me and taunted me. Some of them shoved me into things. It was everyday, every year. It was a cycle that no one tried to break. As for now it still happens and there are very bad side effects to it, but only for me. It's not fair I put up with the pain and mental abuse, while the school does nothing to the bullies. I wake up and afraid to take the first breath, I'm afraid to open my eyes knowing what will happen that day. I trick myself into believing what they say. I cry and scream but no one replies, I'm trapped in this cycle and I want it to stop. But the bad news is it looks like it won't, no one is attempting to stop it. It's funny I find out things about me I didn't even know. The reason I was first bullied was because I talked weird, I was asthmatic, dressed boyish, had to long of hair for girls at the time, I was too smart, I was a nerd, I ate too much, I took up to much space, I was ugly, and I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything. But I did prove them wrong one way, I accomplished one thing, and I prove it everyday by looking them in the eye holding my tears back and breathing. As for the future it will be better I know it will. But I find it funny how words hurt and no one knows then when it happens to them they expect sympathy. As well as the fact they put pressure on us (the bullied) and watch us crumble under it and they wonder why we are so quiet.
By: Kristen
How a Bully Can Turn Into a Friend
Posted: 5/27/2014
Bully
Annoy, Hurt
Angry, Mean, Inconsiderate
Impulsive, Stunned, Ashamed, Remorseful
Kind, Caring, Help
Happy, Give
Friend
By: Caitlin
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WALK IT OFF FOR CHARITY
Posted: 5/23/2014
The following is an interview with Devon Kungas, who in the summer of 2014 will be walking across America to raise money for bullying prevention.
Your walk is titled “walk it off for charity.” What is the inspiration for the name?
The title is based on an old saying: "walk it off." When I was a child and I got hurt, I heard people say "just walk it off." I thought it was a fun, little play on words to show what I am doing and what I am doing it for.
What is the goal for your walk?
My main goal is enjoy the open road. Be free. To find and see things I have never seen before. If I can make money for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, then I’ll be even happier.
What motivated you to make the decision to do this?
I got tired of living a boring life as a dishwasher and not feeling fulfilled. I have always wanted to go on this kind of adventure and thought now was the best time to do it.
How would you define success?
Success to me is the feeling you get at the end of the day knowing you did something good.
Connect with Devon on Facebook and watch progress at facebook.com/WalkItOffForCharity
By: Anonymous
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Love Out Loud
Posted: 5/22/2014
Bullying is unfortunately something I endured for most of my childhood and even my youth. It got in the way of my confidence, happiness, and destroyed a large portion of my life. However, I survived, and so can you. To anyone reading this who is a victim of bullying, know that it isn’t you, it’s them. If someone has a need to make fun of someone else, they are dealing with their own troubles. Find something that you love, in terms of an art form or a hobby and bask in it. I am a Singer/Songwriter and wrote my new record “Love Out Loud” about turning hate into love. It’s my labor of love to victims of bullying, and to anyone having a rough time in their life. It’s hard to deal with people sometimes, but following your dreams, staying true to yourself, and loving yourself will set you free from anything.
By: Warren Nomi
My Story
Posted: 5/22/2014
This is my story about bullying. It started when I was in 5th grade after my first talent show when I said at the being that I sing this song for my mom who had lost a lot that year. I didn’t think that by saying that it would trigger teasing from a boy I thought was my friend. Non-stop it was ‘ why did you say that’ or ‘ the song you sang was so dumb’. I didn’t know what bullying was than nor did I really care. It wasn’t till the end of my 5th grade year that the whole time I was being bullied by this boy, I was so hurt. When I stared 6th grade I was called names and pushed around in the hall but I never really thought of it as bullying . I always tried to be nice to people because I thought if I was nice they would be nice back, I was wrong. The name calling got worse till the point I didn’t want to go to school. In 7th grade I was still being called names and even my friends were being called names because of me. I didn’t want too bring them into my problems but they didn’t drop me like I wanted them to it made me want to cry. I got dirty looks everyday and was even called names at my bus. I always thought a school was a safe place were a student could be safe and have someone to look to when things got bad. At one point in 7th grade I got a pair of nice boots from my adopted sister Amber. I wore them a lot because I loved them. One day I was walking down the hall-way when a girl stepped on the heel and tore it clean off, I cried so hard for a long time because I didn’t know why she did that, I know she was one of the girls that bullied me but I still don’t know why she would trip me. I walked around school trying to be strong and not cry my eyes out. I had to limp a little to make it look like nothing was wrong but I think everyone saw right through me and my act. After that I wore black and called myself goth,or emo,or even a punk, because I didn’t want to deal with anyone. I got sick a lot and missed a lot of school and that got me picked on more because I was known as the ‘Vampire girl’. I was always keeping myself from people and when I tried to act in a sport I never was able to do it because I didn’t want to be picked on more. If things like this never happened to me I would have never started to care so much about bullying. As my 8th grade year started I waned to do more in my school than the school was doing itself. I was put in a class and was asked to do many things about bullying everyone always played it off as a joke and didn’t really bother with it. I started to talk about bullying more and more and when I did a presentation about it, I was called stupid and was told I was worthless and that no one cared about me. I say bullying everywhere I went and it didn’t matter where I was it was always there. At a park, school, pools, library, ect…. I started wearing black less and less to prove a point that I’m not like everyone else and that if you truly are a friend than you would be with me the whole way as I tried to win my goal. I will say that I have said mean things to people to try and hide my tears and my pain and show that I’m strong but in truth I’m about as strong as a fly is. I just want to help the other people that I have seem be bullied by others.
I want to stop bullying as much as everyone and I will do everything in my power to make sure it stops you can always count on me!
By: Autumn
Shine Bullying Prevention
Posted: 5/14/2014
Madison Cantwell knows what it’s like to be bullied. And she’s determined to prevent it from happening to anyone else. After winning the title of Miss Heart of the Ozarks International, Madison has visited schools, created a Facebook page, and gotten her community involved in Unity Day. She even created a pageant, Little Miss and Miss Belle, to benefit PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center – and raised over $1,000! The students Madison speaks to are truly touched by her efforts, her listening ear, and her story.
“I personally suffered through bullying for about 6 years or so, and it is without a doubt the most haunting experience I have ever been through. Not only did I go through this myself, I also witnessed my best friend face the same tribulation. I have been surrounded by verbal, physical, and cyber bullying for most of my school years. Even when it wasn't happening to me or a close friend, it was most definitely still present. Bullying breaks my heart, and it has left the deepest scars in me. Throughout my bullying prevention adventures, I have heard so many stories and had so many children and adults confide in me. I've had children tell me that I have given them the courage to tell their teacher about what's happening to them at school. I've had teens tell me I've given them hope even during a time that seems so dark, nearing the point of suicidal thoughts. I even had one parent come to me in tears after I spoke at an event, thanking me for speaking out because so many people in this world are afraid to do so; his son attempted suicide because of bullying last December, and he called his son over to come and talk with me a while, and it was one of the most beautiful things to be able to be a positive ray of light for someone who is struggling to that extent. After everything I've been through, I feel that is is my duty to make sure that no one else ever has to endure the same terrible things. Every life I change, every smile I bring to a victim's face, every attitude towards bullying that I change makes my broken heart and those deep scars so very worth the pain.
“I’ve spoken at several different schools in Northwest Arkansas about bullying, read bullying prevention stories (including The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin) to children at the library, spoken at various events in Northwest Arkansas, encouraged my friends and family to wear orange on Unity Day, and hosted my own fundraising pageant (Little Miss and Miss Belle 2014) to benefit PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. I hand out PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center’s bookmarks wherever I can, and I’ve started my own Facebook page, SHINE Bullying Prevention. Through these endeavors, I have raised $1,000 for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, which I will be withdrawing from the online fundraising site soon in order to place my donation. The young woman who won my bullying prevention pageant is a victim of bullying herself, and she and I are planning events together for the near future. We just recently spoke to about 280 elementary school students and then to the 5th and 6th graders of a local school. Miss Belle was moved to tears as she talked about her experiences with bullying. The response the children had to our message absolutely blew me away. We really got through to them, and that will never stop filling me with amazement and providing me with hope for a bully-free future.”
By: Anonymous
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STAND UP for TOURETTE SYNDROME
Posted: 5/6/2014
Every day more and more kids are realizing that teasing and bullying have no place in classrooms, schools and communities. Kids are realizing they can be more than bystanders. They can STAND UP and “do the right thing”. In this terrific video the kids STAND UP for TOURETTE SYNDROME by helping Luke, a young boy with Tourette Syndrome (TS) explain his TS to a group of kids who have been acting really mean to him. Luke tells them all about having TS, and by the time he is finished the mean kids have learned about TS and they apologize!
Please share the “Stand Up for Tourette Syndrome” video with children, teachers, friends and family to build awareness of Tourette Syndrome. The National Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) also offers a free downloadable teacher’s guide that can be used in elementary and middle school classrooms as a resource for discussion, activities and education.
“Stand Up for Tourette Syndrome” is also available with Spanish subtitles at LEVANTAN para el SÍNDROME DE TOURETTE.
As the kids in the video say “EVERYBODY STAND UP FOR TOURETTE SYNDROME!”
By: STAND UP for TOURETTE SYNDROME was created and copyrighted by the National Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA)
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Danny’s Team
Posted: 5/6/2014
Danny, a first-grader from Massachusetts, is used to getting bullied. But the fifth grade football team, who knows Danny as their water boy, decided that he shouldn’t have to suffer. Watch what happens when 45 fifth grade students let Danny know that he’s part of their team, that he’s loved, and that they’ve got his back.
By: Anonymous
You Can Stop The Bullying
Posted: 5/1/2014
Warning: This video does address the issue of suicidal ideation. Before showing in a classroom, please take into consideration if the content is appropriate for your audience.
By: Directed by Sabyn Mayfield and produced by StayFly Productions and Marca-Relli Productions
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Submit a video, story, poem, artwork, or audio clip expressing how you feel about bullying, how you think it affects students and schools, what you have done to prevent bullying, or what others can do to prevent bullying.
