What you can do

Report. Be a friend. Stand up.
Three simple things you can do to create a change.

Don't be afraid to tell someone, mainly an adult. Telling isn't tattling, you're helping someone. There is an endless possibility of adults you can confide in telling something as serious as bullying. School counselor, teacher, parent, coach, anyone of authority.

Just being supportive to a person who is being bullied is comforting and shows them that they're not alone. That people care. When someone is down they need a friend. Be a buddy at school, get together after school, include them in activities. Being understanding and supportive means so much. If you care, show it.

Stand up to the bully. If you feel safe and comfortable, tell the bully that what they are doing is wrong. Keep it simple. What they are doing is not cool and they need to stop. But remember, it's not ok to bully them back.

The Negative Image

Negative actions often have a more memorable effect on people than positive ones. People remember the mean and harmful things that happen to them much more than the uplifting ones. As we engage with others it is important to reflect on this idea. Our negative actions will be how people remember us. Even if its just one encounter, if that encounter is negative you will always be remembered as "the person who hurt me". Since bullying is a negative action in every way we must strive to avoid it. At one point or another we have all bullied someone. If it happened isn't the problem tho. The problem is the effort we put into fixing it. What if we take the time to fix the negative images that others have of us? By ensuring people see us in a non-bullying light, we not only fight the bullying that occurs within all of us, but we also pave the way for others to follow. Actions really do speak louder than words and while we can fight bullying by spreading the word, we must also spread the actions. Live the words you spread, act the way you speak, and thus change the world.

When your with your siblings....

do you bully or do you tease?

There is a very fine line in-between these two. I know i have crossed it many times a whole heartily regret it. Siblings pick and tease each other relentlessly, but where do we draw the line? When does playful teasing becoming harmful bullying? Well, lets look at what bullying really is. Bullying is the tormenting of another to elevate one's self above them. To me it seems that teasing can easily fall into this category. We must be very careful about the words we choose to say to anyone, our loved ones especially. Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can stab at your soul.