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Online activism can be powerful. Spend some time this week looking for Facebook groups to join so you can unite with other students interested in anti-bullying issues. Make an effort to post at least 3 comments and see what happens. See if you can pick up any good ideas that you can use in your school or community. There’s power in numbers, and you may be surprised by how many meaningful connections you make.

Smiling is such an easy way to spread positivity. Smiles instantly make us happier, alleviate stress, and pass good vibes to the people around us.¹³ Give at least one purposeful smile a day to someone you pass in the hall this week. For someone who’s feeling down, sometimes all it takes to feel better is a small acknowledgement that another person sees them. BONUS: Make sure to give at least one smile to someone you don’t know.

Doing something nice and surprising for someone who’s been bullied can go a long way to reduce the effects of bullying. According to a 2015 study, researchers found that surprises do more to make us happy than pleasant events we expect. If you know someone who is getting bullied, whether it’s a close friend or not, make plans to surprise them this week. You could brighten their day with cupcakes or by slipping an anonymous note in their locker telling them how important they are. Whether you get to see their reaction or not, you’ll know that you did your best to help, and that’s what matters.

Clearly defining your identity and values can help raise your self-esteem and make it harder for others to pull you down.¹¹ If you’re being bullied or trying to encourage someone else who is, we challenge you to “define your own self-worth.” Write a list of things you value about yourself and start each line with, “I am worth it because…” They can be big or little things. If you pair up with a friend, you can help each other brainstorm.

Performing acts of kindness for others can make you happier, too. So go out of your way to be positive this week! Pick one activity to do repeatedly, and see what impact it has. You could try saying “hi” to everyone you pass in the hall, opening the door for whoever is behind you, or posting positive comments on your friends’ walls. Just get out there and spread good vibes!

Ventura County Farm to School is a partner with Ojai Unified School District to provide our students with fresh, locally sourced, healthy food. Check out their new web site, Farm to School, and if you like the idea of good food for students, consider donating to this very worthy effort.

It can be hard to know how to react if a friend makes sexist comments. According to a 2006 survey in the UK, 20% of kids ages 10–13 experienced bullying that was sexist, sexual, or transphobic in nature. If a friend makes a sexist remark, make a point this week of approaching them later to explain how what they said wasn’t cool. You can try phrases like, “Hey man, what you said back there, I don’t think you meant it, but it was pretty offensive to women,” or “Why are we calling him girly? Is that supposed to be an insult? Girls are cool.” It might cause them to look at things in a new way, and help them avoid making the same mistake in the future.

The lunchroom can be a hot spot for bullying and exclusion. How many times have you walked by someone who was sitting alone during lunch and just gone to your regular spot? At least once this week, ask someone who is sitting alone during lunch if they want company. You can try phrases like, “Hey, can I sit
with you?” or “Hey, you wanna come sit with my friends today?” It’s such a small gesture, and it could make someone’s day. That’s what you call a “no-brainer.”

Uniting with others doesn’t just help defuse bullying in the real world; it can do wonders online too. If you see someone being targeted by a lot of people online or you know someone at the center of a widespread rumor, lead the charge in uniting others to help that person out. You can get your friends to post positive comments on that person’s wall or you may consider encouraging a group of people to change their Facebook profile pictures to show solidarity. Use your judgment to discern what would be appropriate. If those ideas don’t work, you can always organize your friends to send private messages of support.

One 2012 study found that more than one third of adolescents who were harassed in school reported that it was motivated by bias. This week, we challenge you to push back against bias by being curious about what you don’t understand. Get informed by finding out about the culture or customs of one specific person this week. You could watch a documentary or spend just 15 minutes researching on Wikipedia. If there is a cuisine associated with the culture you research, you could even try that too! Remember to share what you learn with your friends and family so they can also get informed.