The fantastic convenience to be able to log on to your computer or even just click an app on your phone, and be connected to all of your friends seems almost more than amazing. But, what happens when you log onto your facebook or Twitter and your feed is littered with humiliating status’s, posts, and tweets about you? What if you are the one being cyber bullied?

An estimated 8 out of 10 adolescents will be affected by cyber bullying by the time they graduate high school.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.

To put it in terms of Franklin High School, there are 1,600 students attending FHS. Imagine how many kids are affected by bullying and cyber bullying in our school alone.

It is important to remember that you aren’t as funny as you think you are, when you crack a joke at another student it very well may seem harmless to you but chances are it wasn’t as harmless as you thought.

Thing To Keep In Mind:

• Rumors are just that, they are rumors. I promise you, you’re better off not believing everything you hear.
• You have no idea what your peers go home to, so why not give them an escape from that rather than keep them looking for a place to hide.
• What you say on the internet can be connected to you FOREVER. That includes colleges, employers, co-workers, ect. Can and will see what you’ve posted. So why post rude things.
• Jokes are jokes, and some of what you say may not be taken as a joke.

It’s important to remember that you will go to high school with the same kids for 4 years of your life, and there is no sense in making that experience miserable for anyone. Help make Franklin High School a better place by looking out for your peers, in school and online.

“Why say something that could ruin someone’s day, when you could say something to make their day?”

To reach out further, join Mrs Cerce’s “Anti-Bullying” club that meets Thursday afternoons’ in the health room .

If you or a friend is being bullied, school adjustment counselors are here to help in B-house C-house and A-house (:

You Aren’t Alone.