BULLYING

We all remember when school was simple. Without the drama, stress, and the biggest decision you had was which color crayon to use. That was a time when the cafeteria was also a place you looked forward to going to, a place to have fun. Well, now, welcome to middle school. The seventh grade cafeteria is not like it used to be. It's like we've gone back in time to segregation. Except that this time we're judged on how we look, what we wear, and the money we have. Why do we need to judge people by how they look, dress, and how much money they have? Girls are trash-talked, back-stabbed, and heart broken. Well, middle school is a battlefield without the guns and knives. People use things that are just as deadly though - words. Once those are out, you can't take them back. They stay with that person forever, scar them. They shout in the halls. I hold my head high even though the words hurt as bad as getting slapped across the face. Nobody realizes the effects those words have on people. Those words beat girls down, lower their self-esteem and their confidence. Girls kill themselves and other people over these words. Words are deadly. Girls become violent and depressed. What happened to "treat people the way you want to be treated" or "don't judge a book by its color"? Bullying is horrible and leads to even more horrible things. So, before you open your mouth to point out somebody else's flaws, take a quick look at yourself, to make sure you're perfect first. Just as Rachel said, "Maybe you'll just start a chain reaction!"

Kelsi Sandoval

Moses Lake