Last September, tragedy struck the country multiple times. Several students committed suicide within one month and many of those suicides were related to some form of LGBT bullying. The bullying reminded me of the song, "Wake Me Up When September Ends", by Green Day. While the song may carry a different meaning than the real-life events that I am referring, I certainly wished September never happened at all.
September is a horrible month for many youth. It means returning to the school where they have been bullied for years for the same thing. For many, it might mean going to a new school and immediately finding it difficult to fit in.
The point is, no matter what the situation, September shouldn't be this way. Going back to school should be good and as cheesy as it sounds, students should be happy to come back to a school to see all of their friends and return to the classroom for an education that is unhindered by feelings of loneliness and humiliation.
I am writing this as a call to everyone. Please help us make this September better by being there for every student. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, an administrator, a bus driver, a custodian, or another student, BE THERE. It is our responsibility to help each other out. One of the central teachings of Judaism (not becoming a religious preacher here) is Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. I believe it is crucial to repairing the world that everyone feels safe and comfortable in their own skin.
I myself have just returned to college with a new energy to helping stop bullying. Thanks to several conferences and workshops over the summer, I have new ideas to help as many people as I can.
If you are in need of help or you think someone is a victim of bullying, please talk to someone. You can contact me or anyone you think can help. Don't wait. As we found out last summer, help might come just too late.
Please take advantage of the resources available in your area or online to help yourself or others out. If you have any questions, I am here for you as well thousands of other people working towards the same goal I am. All you have to do is ask :)
Have a safe year.
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