For Danielle

Bullying is a serious issue. It is everywhere all the time. People are being bullied and affected by bullies 24/7 and you may not always see it.

You may have been teased or gossiped about and you know it’s just stupid jokes from people that don't matter. You may be thinking that it’s all exaggerated just because you may not witness it walking the halls at school. You could also be one of the millions of victims of serious bullying. Or you could even be the bully. No matter what your situation is, bullying is there. In school, at the soccer field, on the computer, pretty much everywhere.
You probably hear stories about people taking their lives due to bullying on the news every so often, but it is hard to really understand how serious it is until it happens to you or someone you care about.
Today a beautiful, outgoing, amazing girl took her life and our whole town was devastated. Not everyone knew her, and I will be the first to say I was never close to her. I met her maybe twice at the most. But it happened. And it showed it could happen to anyone, anywhere.

Now, it is so easy to bully someone without doing it face to face. On the computer it is so simple to send a mean message, post a rude comment, or just gossip. People are also finding ways to do it all anonymously. If you see bulliyng going on in school, online, or anywhere else, report it to a teacher or parent. Even if it was not done on school grounds, that doesn't mean they can't help. If you see someone posting or talking about suicide, tell an adult immediately, even if you think they are joking because you can learn the hard way that they weren't. And don't ignore it because you think someone else will see it and speak up because they are thinking the same thing.
To all of those getting bullied, do something. Teachers, parents, and others want to help you. They are there for you and the harassment can come to an end no matter how bad it is. If it applies to you, save mean messages, texts, or whatever you have and bring it to a teacher. Some schools also let you leave anonymous tips against bullies. Even if the hate is not directed at you, show it to an adult. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
?In The Loving Memory of Danielle. May you rest in peace.
If you are being bullied, you can call this hotline anytime: (863)-993-1504 If you are located in the U.S.
1800 55 1800 If you are located in Australia
If you are thinking about suicide call this hotline anytime: (800)-273-TALK If you are located in the U.S.
13 11 14 If you are located in Australia?, If your country is not listed for any hotline, it can be found on the internet.