Two Students Share Their Experiences with Bullying

Olga Villaverde and Julie Moran sit down with some exceptional youths taking a stand against bullying, buoyed by an organization called Be Strong.

We hear from two teens, Jackson Destine and Stevencia Estime, who have drawn on their experiences of being bullied to help other students dealing with the effects of being bullied.

Be Strong is an organization whose mission is to prevent bullying by providing a safe place for students to reveal challenges they are facing, training and equipping them to be resilient, arming students with information on local support services, and uniting them to bring about a positive change in themselves and their sphere of influence.

Bullying, and exposure to violence can lead to a wide array of negative behaviors and outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and many other psychological challenges, which can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm, suicide, arrests and gun violence. To effectively address these behaviors and negative outcomes Be Strong provides training for teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and qualified community volunteers to help recognize signs that a student might need special attention.

Through heightened awareness, community advocacy and youth empowerment, Be Strong strives to shine a light on social environment safety and acceptance, enhance awareness about the resources available, and aggregate professional service providers.