Being Our True Selves

Posted: 10/17/2013

I’ve been bullied for many, many years. I actually don’t remember a year in my life when I haven't been bullied... At first, I just kind of shrugged it off and went on with my life. But after a while, it continued to build up, and I started to act out. I was skipping school, my grades were suffering, and I was becoming very short tempered. Nothing was going right, really. Then, when I was 14 year old, I was selected to go to a Disney Friends For Change camp in Arizona. There, I learned about bullying and leadership. I learned that I truly can make a difference in my community, and that bullying CAN in fact be stopped. So, when I came back to my community, I started to do something. I taught a multitude of seminars at some of the local colleges and universities, teaching the importance of sticking together and standing up to the bullies. I told my students that our words and actions can impact anybody and everybody. To date, I’ve taught over 20 seminars on bullying, and I’ve taught about a thousand students, ranging from ages 10-60. I have also started a social justice club in my school. At first, there were only about 15 students, but after only a couple of short months, there are almost 40 students involved with the club! I also got my school to be a We School and got us tickets to We Day. The reaction in my community has been so positive and supportive, it’s truly fabulous. I just hope that I can do more for the community, and help to create a movement to wipe out bullying in my community. I have Free the Children and Disney to thank for my success. Without them, I don’t know where I would be today. I also want all of those who have been bullied to know that they are not alone. They’re not alone, and we will one day be bully-free. We'll be able to be our true selves and have a good life, once more.

By: Laura