I have the most amazing daughter I want to tell you about. Cheyenne is almost 16 years old and has dealt with bullying for years. It started in middle school when we lived in the Williamsville school district, and continued after moving to Niagara Wheatfield. At first it was just one or two kids calling her names in the school halls and in class, then it was several kids and they were even threating to beat her up. It also followed her after school, on the bus and in our neighborhood.
I tried talking to the school, but at first they said Cheyenne just needed to adjust to the new school, but it continued to get worse. I know it got to the point where she felt she couldn't handle it anymore, I am just very thankful she hung in there and didn't give up. Between her counslers, principal and a few teachers Cheyenne learned how to cope, how to ignore the bullies and not give them any ammunition to use to hurt her. The bullies got talked to at school and things calmed down alittle, but the calm never lasted long, the bullying always started back up again. And even though she was dealing with it herself, Cheyenne always found time to help other students who where dealing with it too.
After Cheyenne heard about Jamey, everything he went threw and knowing how he felt, she became really upset. I was worried that this would be a set back for her, she has come so far in these past 2 years. But instead of getting angry she started rallying her school to do something. First she asked them to put the school flag at half mast for Jamey, which they did, then she gave a speech to faculty to start an anti bullying club in the school. Not only did they agree to the club, but they were so impressed with her speech that they asked her to read it for the whole school. Her and a few other friends have put together a plan to help kids who feel they are being bullied. They will teach them coping skills to help them deal with the bullying until their issues can get solved properly. They are even talking about making t-shirts that say "safe place " so kids at school know who they can go to to get help. And since she started rallying against bullies, more and more kids at the school are coming forward to show Cheyenne support, "even the popular kids are talking to me" is what she told me.
I am so proud to be her mother, I am so impressed with the way she is handling this and I'm hoping her story will help others dealing with bullying. If I could get one message out there to those who are dealing with bully's, it would be to not give up, don't let them win by giving up. You are stronger than you think, and as hard as it is to believe right now, it does get better.
