TEEN TRUTH: VOICES – YOU HAVE THE POWER

July 21st, 2010

“You Have the Power!”

My name is Liza Aunkst, age 14 from Benedict, Nebraska. I am a freshman in high school. I want to tell you now, being a freshman in high school is not all that beautiful. It kind of stinks sometimes. I’ve been called “stupid” by seniors. I’m not stupid. I’m actually pretty smart.

What I’m trying to get to here, is that yes, I have been bullied. I know what it feels like. It hurts. It really does, and it felt like no one was there to understand me or help me – until my school attended TEEN TRUTH LIVE. After the presentation was over, I went up and met JC Pohl. JC was an amazing presenter. The way he presented everything, the emotion he had. The connection. EVERYTHING. After leaving the presentation, I thought, “Speech season is coming up. It would be a great time to address bullying.” So I did exactly what I told myself I was going to do.

I am like everyone else. I wonder why no one understands me. I hear the whispers. I hear them laugh. I can see the cruel jokes as I pass by. I pretend not to hear. I am like everyone else. I feel all alone. Will they ever see? I touch lives of everyone around me. I dream of happier times.

There are many different ways you and everyone around you can take action on preventing bullying. You can tell an adult. By telling an adult, it would make them much more aware of what is happening to the students in the school and they could watch the bully more closely to see if he or she will cause any more trouble. According to the National School Safety Center increasing the awareness of everyone at school towards bullying problems will help the problem. When awareness is increased a victim will feel more secure in an environment where you are supposed to feel safe. Educate faculty, students and anyone, really.

You can stand up for the victim. If you see the person getting bullied in the hallway, or outside of school and you don’t see anyone standing up for them, go up to them and stop it. You have the power to step in and MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

- Liza Aunkst just finished her freshman year in Benedict, Nebraska and nearly won the state championship for her speech on bullying.