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Youth Corner: Writings

Students from Santa Barbara High School wrote about Bullying and Violence

Fear

The wars "we" face

("we" - Lesbian, gay, bi, transgender community)

Not having the right to say.

Kicked, pushed, shoved galore.

Is all to me a horror.

The names and things we fear, makes us feel the end may be near.

Open your hearts and see that we are just like every other person, indeed.

Give us a chance To Live.

We se the faces you make,

We hear the names you narrate.

Our world is full of hate you see,

but all it takes is One,

to let us be free.

"I think that the 14 year old that stabbed my friend, Chunky, was very immature and was only thinking about the respect he'd get from his homies. Respect isn't enough of a reason for killing someone. Killing doesn't solve anything, it just gives our community more problems and worries".

"I had an old friend that when she was about 13 years old she hung out w/a 19 year old and they were best friends. It seemed strange to me why a 19 year old girl who had other friends who would be best friends w/a 13 year old but I couldn't do anything about it cause she was her best friend-not mine anymore. As time went by, like 3 months, some things started to change. Ganster girls wanted to beat her up because she would get w/ thier boyfriends or ex-boyfriends. When the girls would hear about it they would get feriuos cause the messed up gangsters would run thier mouth saying they had got with her and stupid stuff. Then she began to call me again. The only reason she began to call me was because evveryone wanted to beat her up and because she wasn't talking to her 19 year old friend anymore because the gangster girls wanted to beat her up. She had told her mom to never say she was home and she wouldn't come out at all. The only firend she had was me. I would be her only visitor.We became best friends. Then like 1 1/2 months passed and she began to talk to her 19 year old friend. When I found out I was so, I don't know...mad...upset...worried. She had to move cause she messed up in school, about 50 minutes away. I just dreamed she could come back so we could hang out. I missed her so much. then she came back to S.B. In the summer everything was marvelous but the school year began she started making plans with the other girl and cutting me off. I guess i wouldn't satisfy her with my firendship." I felt extremely unwanted and like trash. That was the end of our friendship".

"The killing of CF Luis made me feel bad because it wasn't fair. he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't know why they fight. They are both Chicanos, whatever side they are from. People out there are laughing because Latinos are fighting and killing each other. All the Latinos should get along even if they are from different sides".

"When people see bullying, they don't say anything, they don't do anything because some people think it is so cool and fun to watch it or because they are scared and don't want to get into trouble themselves. Bullying can be big and small, it can be with just giving each other a dirty look or hitting each other. It could be for no reason or for prejudism. it happens in school, outside, at home and on the streets. Teachers agree with students that there should be more security at school, but when there is too much, the school will feel like a prison, and when there is not enough, students will get away with their bullying. So, what is the solution? There is no solution, we can only try to encourage students to speak up and tell that something is going on because bullying will never stop".

"What happened on State Street was never meant to happen it was never meant to take someone's life away! But obviously it did happen. This makes me feel sad but not really because he belonged to a gang but on the other hand, I knew him and I talked to him last year before he got involved in a gang this shows that it wasn't meant for him to be in it. It's not meant for anyone but others go through it and survive".

The Queen Bee

"My bullying story is probably one that many girls have felt. It goes along the lines of Queen Bee and Wanna Bee. When I was in 7th grade there was this really mean popular girl. I was really insecure and thought that maybe she was my friend. I was completely wrong. Everyday she would call me and ask for homework. i, of course, gave it to her. She consistently put me down and told me how fat and ugly I was. For some reason, i still was nice to her. I always saw her whispering to her friends about me. Then, as a joke, she called me slave and told me to do things for her. Once, she even told me to jump in a trash can. Sadly, I did just that. I felt weak, sad, and even more insecure then before. Finally, i had enough and avoided her as much as I could. To this day, I wish I had stood up for myself and told her to stop".

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