Student Andrew Schwartz tells his truth in this week’s TEEN TRUTH: VOICES.

Throughout elementary and middle school I didn’t have many friends, and it was no one’s fault but my own. I purposely alienated myself from others and at times I was even a bully. But I wasn’t a bully because I felt like making people feel bad, it was because of all of the anger I had inside.

My relationship with my father fueled this constant anger that I would take out on both my brother and on other kids at school. But when I got to high school, I started to change.

While I couldn’t stop what was going on at home, I realized I could take control of my overall life. I made new friends and hung out with different groups at my school to get to know more people.  Before I knew it, I had a few really close friends. It was hard to make new friends because I had developed a reputation for being a bully.

When I tried to branch out to other kids in school, people just laughed at me. But I didn’t give up. I stayed with the clubs I was in and I even advanced to Student Council. I became more active and involved in whatever I could at school.

I didn’t really understand how the power of my efforts began to change my life until I experienced TEEN TRUTH LIVE.  On November 23rd, 2009, I was sitting in an auditorium in the front row where Erahm Christopher was delivering the presentation. The TEEN TRUTH BULLY FILM and Mr. Christopher’s presentation made me aware of how my actions had impacted others and I felt compelled to do something about it.

At that moment, Erahm said to all of us “I am going to count down from five and before I reach one I want someone to stand up and tell me how they are going to BE THE DIFFERENCE in their school”.  He shouted “five”, but no one stood up. He continued, “four”, but still no one had the courage to stand up.

I decided I wasn’t going to be like everyone else. He shouted “three” and I stood up.  Mr. Christopher approached me and said, “What are you going to do to BE THE DIFFERENCE?”  I was full of emotion and without wasting a moment I said, “I am going to look out for the people in my school who are made fun of. I am going to stand up against the bullies in my school and I am going to make a difference”!  I looked at Mr. Christopher and he knew I meant every word of what I said.

For years I had tried to fit in, and few would let me. I was not the only person who was having trouble being accepted. It was happening in the younger grades as well. After I told Mr. Christopher what I was committed to doing, he gave me a TEEN TRUTH band and asked, “Is that why you are here?”  I turned to the rest of the hundred plus audience and said, “That’s why we all are here. We are here to make a difference.”

When I turned around, I shook Mr. Christopher’s hand and sat down.   It was a very powerful moment, and to this day I still keep in contact with him. I realize now, it doesn’t matter what your truth is as long as you want to make a difference, nothing in the world can stop you.