Photo By Cpl. Jackeline Perez Rivera | Kyle Thomas, a winner of a national anti-bullying contest and a member of Teen Squad,...... read more read more
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CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A member of Teen Squad, a Children Teen and Youth program for teens aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, has recently joined the national efforts against bullying by entering a contest that brought awareness to the cause.
Kyle Thomas, an area Teen Squad member, did his part to help raise awareness of bullying by entering the Saving Our Daughters’ Oath Project “Please Put a Stop to Bullying Now” contest.
The contest involved a written entry Thomas wrote chronicling a time when he had to help a friend who was suffering due to bullies.
Thomas wrote about what his friend went through and his efforts to be there for her during a time of need.
“I wrote about cheering her up,” said Thomas.
Thomas spoke of how an acquaintance had begun spreading rumors about his friend, and how the bullying became physical with other students pushing and shoving her.
“She was being bullied by the majority of her school,” said Thomas.
It got to the point where his friend’s mother had to step in with the school in order to put a stop to the bullying. Thomas said he believes the interaction helped because “she hasn’t said she’s been bullied since.”
While the instance of bullying he speaks of seems to have been resolved, bullying has remained in the forefront of discussion throughout the country and it is not limited to youth. It spans through professions, academia, churches and in almost any other instance where people interact.
“I don’t think people realize the impact they can have on a person,” said Thomas.
Bullying can take many forms to young people, from gossip whispered behind one’s back to text messages and comments on social media. Bullying can lead to physical altercations, decreased academic achievement, and a higher risk of anxiety and depression, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Stop Bullying website.
“Some people don’t notice it’s happening or that they [themselves] are bullies,” said Thomas.
Many people even view bullying as a healthy rite of passage for youth, according to a University of Nebraska publication.
However, youth who report bullying and bullies are more likely to have long or short term problems and are at greater risks to drop out of school.
Groups that tolerate bullies are more likely to lose the trust of the students they serve and the youth become less motivated to participate.
The contest is spearheaded by actress Keke Palmer with a nonprofit organization Saving our Daughters. Palmer has become a spokesperson for their anti-bullying campaign.
Prizes for the contest included movie tickets, promotional items and a phone conversation with Keke Palmer.
“It’s shocking,” said Thomas. “I didn’t expect to win, especially top 10 in the nation.”
For more information about bullying, visit stopbullying.gov.
| Date Taken: | 01.28.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2012 10:23 |
| Story ID: | 85350 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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