By The Plaid Press

Bullying Prevention Month is an annual call to action, celebrated each October, to stand up against bullying and harassment. Bullying has devastating effects on children and teens, especially, as it can impact their self-image, relationships, school performance, and mental health. Therefore, during this time, we are reminded that it is not just a responsibility, but rather a necessity that we encourage kindness, inclusivity, and respect. 

October was made National Bullying Awareness Month in 2006 to acknowledge the impacts of bullying on students. According to the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, 20 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 are bullied each year. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bystander intervention is powerful, as more than half of bullying stops when a peer intervenes. Especially in schools, Bullying Prevention Month serves as a reminder to teachers, students, and administration of how important it is to continue the fight against bullying and its impacts in schools. 

In honor of Bullying Prevention Month, the staff of the Hills FM, our school’s radio station, has been working on an interview segment where they discuss the people who make us feel seen and heard. The segment will air next week.

“My friend always made me feel understood, always listened without judgment, and gave thoughtful advice, and made sure that I knew that they were there for me,” junior Gio Perata, a host on the Hills FM, said in his segment. 

The interviews emphasized how important it is to reach out to people to show that we recognize their struggles and that we sympathize or empathize. Especially with bullying so prevalent, we need to check in with each other to see if anyone needs help.

“I want to talk about my friend Alan,” senior Aleeza Syeda said on the show. “He saw me for who I was and supported me throughout everything. Even when our friendship was falling apart he would still reach out to me.” 

Revealed later in the show, Syeda clearly paid that kindness forward. 

“My friend Aleeza has always been there for me,”  senior Alan Bibian said. “Even when she was down and she would be done and had something on her mind she would always reach out and I would talk to her when she needed it.”

In a world where bullying continues to impact so many, Bullying Prevention Month reminds us of the power of kindness, support, and solidarity. The stories shared on Hills FM show just how much a small act of empathy can mean to someone facing hardship. As we reflect on these experiences, let’s carry the spirit of this month forward as the fight against bullying is a year-round effort, and starts with each of us.