School counselors are participating in a nationwide campaign to support  National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.

Junior counselor Anna Miyashiro said, “We wanted to have a schoolwide initiative to promote bullying prevention skills and tools. We want students to discuss their experience and be educated. By understanding what being bullied really is, students can be advocates so that this problem can be solved.”

Counselors have activities for bullying prevention awareness, including discussions in homerooms, guidance lessons and a Fun Unity Day, in which students will be able pledge to stand up to bullies and be part of the solution to counteract bullying.

Freshman counselor Angie Dolan said, “We wanted to raise awareness and discussions. Moreover, we wanted to educate students to take a stand against bullying. We also want to build a stronger bond between students.”

Students are in favor of the efforts that counselors and teachers are making to combat bullying.

Sophomore Sophia Obando said, “It is important to bring awareness because there are people in this school who are being bullied in school every day but people don’t recognize it. Bullying can have a long-term effect on someone, so it is definitely important for teachers to discuss it with students.”

Senior Jaclyn Sakamoto said,”The Anti-Bullying Campaign is absolutely necessary and I commend the counselors for raising awareness. It’s such a relevant topic for teens today. Integrating talks on bullying in homeroom circle is probably the best way to raise awareness because it allows students to share experiences and opinions on how to deal with situations that involve bullying.”

Many students are also delighted that teachers are integrating the Anti-Bullying campaign into homeroom circles since they are able to talk about their past experiences. By discussing it, many students also find comfort.

Sophomore Kaycee Selga said, “I think it’s great that everyone is talking about it because many students don’t know how to handle the situation when they’re bullied. Discussing it in homeroom allows them to find comfort and share their experience.”

Sophomore Katherine Hennion said, “Discussing this topic in homeroom helps us to be comfortable addressing bullying and stopping it. Girls should want to come to school and have fun with their friends and learn things; they shouldn’t be afraid of being picked on by fellow classmates.”

Bullying may be an uncomfortable subject to talk about because people don’t want to admit to bullying, being a victim, or being a bystander. However, counselors’ objective is to help students to be comfortable addressing bullying and stopping it.

Miyashiro said, “Our ultimate goal is to make a school community effort and we’re definitely excited for the upcoming events. Lastly, we want to convey a message and remind students to respect, love and care for each other. Hopefully they will carry it out for the rest of their lives.”