A lot of experts are looking for a solution to the growing issue of bullying, in particular among young people.
I met part of the answer last night.
Nick Grandizio is a senior at Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School. Instead of waiting for the administration or parents to address the growing menace of bullying, and before it reaches the tragic end we saw earlier this week when a young Florida girl who had been tormented by months by a group of young girls took her own life, Nick decided to do something on his own.
He’s started an anti-bullying group for students to confront the issue where it is exploding - among young people.
Last night I had a chance to talk to Nick, along with Bonner-Prendie President Bill Brannick and Dr. Claudio Cerullo, the head of the local advocacy group Teach Anti-Bullying Inc., on our live-stream broadcast, ‘Live From the Newsroom.’ If you missed the show you can catch the replay here.
Nick explained that part of his motivation was his own personal experience, as well as what he increasingly sees among young people. He knows how it feels to be picked on, he knows what happens when kidding around - the kind of stuff guys have always done - goes over the line.
Most importantly, he is keenly aware of the way social media and technology has forever changed this issue, making it much more prevalent and much tougher to stop.
It’s amazing what people are willing to say and do given the cloak of anonymity that the Internet and much of social media offers them.
Nick Grandizio knows that, and he’s decided to attack the problem head-on.
The first meeting of his anti-bullying group will be held at the school today.
When he first announced his intention to form the group at a school assembly to kick off the school year, he was greeted with a standing ovation.
Nick Grandizio is on the right path. I think kids will pay much more attention to the message when it is delivered by one of their peers, as opposed to a member of the media or even parents or an advocacy group.
Nick Grandizio walks in their shoes. He know how it feels.
Now he’s going to use that knowledge to be part of the solution.
Bullying may just have met its match.
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