Last week the Tribune was invited to attend an Anti-Bullying Day assembly hosted by students at Williams Lake Secondary School. It was a 45-minute event where students told personal stories about being bullied, sang songs, displayed photographs, made speeches and finished off with a flash mob.
Organizers Willa Julius, Karamyn Fraser, Kyry Morrison and Leah Anderson shared personal stories. It took courage and all four young women were greeted with loud cheers by their peers.
One of the four said she’d scarred most of her body and tried to end her life many times up until she finally received some help. “I’m here now cuz I’m immortal,” she said with a big smile.
Another said she had a few friends, but when she moved to a new school, her friends were accepted while she was treated as a “germ.”
A third student said she’d been bullied from a young age and was told she was greasy and ugly. That morning someone had called her a derogatory name.
Looking out to the crowd she insisted she knows she is worthwhile because her family and her boyfriend regularly tell her she is.
Striking statistics and insights were shared alongside photographs, videos and public service announcements created by students. Some of them included:
Every seven minutes a child is bullied.
Over half of teens have been bullied online.
We are the most medicated generation in history.
Sixty-four per cent of students accept bullying as normal.
Men commit suicide four times as much as women.
Julius said last year they organized an event for girls only, but this time decided to invite everyone and share real stories of what has happened.
The student efforts at WLSS were part of many events that took place on Anti-Bullying Day in Williams Lake and a reminder that it never hurts to be reminded that bullying persists.
– Williams Lake Tribune
