At student assembly, bullying survivor offers hopeful message to people who are bullied and those who want to help

Anti-bullying advocate and New York Times best-selling author Jodee Blanco talks about bullies, bystanders and people who want to help but are afraid.

“Perhaps you’re a parent, and you can’t stand one more day of watching your child suffer at the hands of his peers simply for being different,” she states on her website, www.jodeeblanco.com.

“You might even be the mom or dad of a bully and at your wits end over what to do about it,” she continues. “Or, maybe you’re an educator or counselor, frustrated by the pain you witness, yet feeling powerless to stop it.”

She insists that there are solutions and there is hope.

“Take a moment, close your eyes and breathe,” she told an assembly of fifth- through eighth-graders and teachers from Visitation Inter-parish School in Vienna, Holy Family School in Freeburg, and Immaculate Conception School in Loose Creek, during an Oct. 11 workshop in Vienna.

Ms. Blanco, a survivor turned activist and advocate for the bullied, is author of Please Stop Laughing at Me.

Since the release of her first book, she has been touring the nation’s schools, sharing her story with students, teachers and parents to help motivate change.

INJJA (It’s not just joking around!) is the name of her anti-bullying program, which consists of live presentations and optional long-term follow-up.

She works with various organizations addressing bullying in the workplace, hazing and university bullying, as well as speaking at keynote events at conferences and conventions nationwide.

Her story of survival of junior high and high school and the happy ending leaves the students with hope.

She explained that children are not born mean and that it is important to get to the story of the person bullying, as often they are being hurt by some life situation they can’t control.

She discussed the difference between “tattling” and “telling” and promised help for anyone who needs it by sharing her e-mail address, jodee@jodeeblanco.com.

She also directed them to her website for information and encouragement.

“All of the adults who attended left feeling it was a life changing, eye-opening, experience for all of us,” stated a teacher who attended the assembly.

“We wish Jodee continued success reaching out to students across the nation on how to turn to someone for help,” the teacher stated.