National Bullying Prevention Month is a great reminder that there’s so much we can do to support one another against bullying.
Whether it’s cyberbullying or excessive teasing, it’s not cool to treat others like they don’t belong. While we can’t always make a bully change their ways, we can be the change we want to see simply by treating others with compassion and kindness.
Yeah, it is cool to be kind. One way to exercise kindness is to check in with peers who might be experiencing loneliness. Nobody wants to feel lonely at school, but it can be tough for our more introverted or shy peers to get in the swing of making new friends and branching out at school. Can you relate?
Even if you’ve never been that kid who was nervous about finding a place to sit at lunch, or was too shy to raise their hand in class, a little bit of empathy goes a long way.
Research shows that nearly 79% of Gen-Z reports feeling lonely, so it’s important that we have each others’ backs now more than ever. That’s why we’re working hard to get 4,000 welcome guides and notes sent out to students by the end of the month with our New School Year, New Friends: You Belong Here program.
These welcome guides and notes are an awesome way to let your peers know that they belong at school. If you’ve ever experienced loneliness, imagine how much of a big deal it would have been to receive a kind message reminding you that you belong. Pretty sweet, right?
Let’s Do This!
DoSomething
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Staying on the same thread, this week’s community spotlight goes to our stellar members of our New School Year, New Friends: You Belong Here program.
We’ve been so inspired by all the young people speaking up about mental health and well-being.
There’s a feeling of radical solidarity in the air, and we’re here for it.
Here’s what some of our members had to say about mental health and navigating a return to the classroom:
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Chrissy M, 19: “Mental health is very important to me. Loneliness and the thoughts that come along with it go hand in hand with mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I suffer from mental illness and almost everyone I know does as well. We are a generation that deserves a more accepting and connected community. We deserve our voices to be heard and our stories to be told.”
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Arden A, 14: “I think it can be extremely stressful to walk into a school building for the first time, unsure of where to go or who to talk to. I myself have been victim to this stress many times in my school career. By leaving these notes around my school, I can anonymously encourage peers to speak up and ask for help if they need it, and I can remind them that they will be okay and that they should not be worried about what any student thinks of them.”
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Hadja M, 17:“I'm a huge advocate of anything that involves inclusion. As a senior, one of my main goals this year is to show how teamwork is more than just talking to your classmates but your peers as well. . teamwork includes those who are not as outgoing, but still enjoy some company. This campaign is important to me because not only does it spread kindness throughout my school, but it also allows me to form bonds with underclassmen who could learn from my experiences as a senior who has been in the exact same position.”
We’re so glad to see students working so hard to make their schools more inclusive. Snaps to that!
Psst… It’s not too late to join in the kindness revolution over here! There’s still plenty of time to create your welcome guide or note. Plus, you’ll be entered to earn a $500 scholarship when you join!
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Don’t miss out… Vibe Check: A Community Conversation about Mental Health is just around the corner! This virtual event is happening this Thursday, October 13th from 7:00-8:30pm EST. Featuring some stellar panelists and some fire mental health resources that you can share with your peers, you won’t want to miss this FREE event.
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Save these dates… Registration deadlines are just around the corner in these states:
- 10/11: Florida, New Mexico
- 10/12: Missouri
- 10/14: Idaho, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma
- 10/15: Delaware
- 10/17: Virginia
- 10/18: Washington DC, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, West Virginia
Run, don't walk to remind your peers in these states that the time is now to get registered to vote!
Did you hear about… Remember the #icebucketchallenge of 2014? Yeah, the one where we all dumped ice water on our heads for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) awareness. Turns out, the craze around the challenge was actually super beneficial in raising funds to research and approve a new treatment for the disease! This is a huge win for the ALS community and we’re excited to see a campaign like this one have such tangible success. How’s that for an awesome reminder of how collective action (online or
offline) can drive real-world change?
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CollegeXpress
It’s spooky season! Our friends at CollegeXpress are giving away a $1000 scholarship through October 31!
Complete a free profile on CollegeXpress and answer one question to be entered: What’s your favorite scary movie, book, or legend?
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