DignityRocks!™ is an organization offering seminar and educational support services for the promotion, preservation, and protection of human dignity. DEDICATED TO AMANDA BROWNELL

I Feel Like Nobody When … I Feel Like Somebody When … by: Stephanie Heuer

I feel like nobody because I have no friends and people don’t play with me. I feel like somebody when my teacher calls on me when I raise my hand in class. I know the answer, pick me. Please pick me! (4 th grader)

I feel like nobody cause i cant speek english godd. I feel like somebody when we pik aples.

I feel like nobody because we yell at my house, yell, yell, yell. I feel like somebody when I feed my dog and cats. I don’t think anyone is listening (3 rd grader)

I feel like nobody most of the time. My dad isn’t here anymore. I feel like somebody when my dad comes back to visit. We get to play ball. My dad is the greatest. (4 th Grader)

I feel like nobody when I am me. I feel like somebody when I am you.

before Amanda Brownell Age 16 tried to hang herself at Del Mar high school after months of cyber bullying, cruel abusive text messages,teasing and harassment, December 11, 2009 Died April 16th, 2013

I have felt like a nobody this whole year. Kids my age are so judgmental. Just because I listen to rock and wear black, students call me ‘emo’ and ‘goth’. Those two labels are hurtful. People say I cut myself and in the halls they make gestures of cutting. I know people talk about me behind my back, and it hurts. They don’t know me, really, I’m a nice person. Ariel 16 years old

My brother feels like a Nobody. He has Down Syndrome. At school sometimes, I have to protect him because the kids make fun of the way he talks and acts. Why? He just wants to hang with us. It makes me sad. Sad because they don’t know him and he can soar like any other eagle.

I felt like nobody when I moved out of my house. I was 16 1/2. My life had become defined by how many times I had to call 911 and playing a reluctant referee in violent fights between my father and older brother. My mother was hospitalized for 6 weeks with a crushed broken knee cap while desperately trying to break up a family fight between my brothers. I decided that night it was safer to go. I wasn’t ready. I soon missed the mashed potatoes and roast beef on Sunday afternoons, and having my laundry cleaned and neatly stacked. I pretended for a long time it was great to be on my own but really deep down inside, I just wanted to be a family - a safe, quiet, and peaceful family.

Anonymous Hard to Track Easy to access info Abundant of places to post (twitter, FB, Dirty, Gossip, Instagram,, YouTube, etc.) Cyber Bullies,Creepers,Stalkers, Aggressors….

What can YOU DO ! Defend others’ Dignity,Discuss/Debate,Dismiss Don’t be a bystander, say something, do something, like, ‘that’s not cool/chill’, divert, help disengage Delete ‘non friends’ (FB), set proper privacy headings, block, deactivate, take breaks and text time outs Don’t encourage your friends to post or text when they are angry, hurt Don’t post anything on the internet you wouldn’t want your teacher, a college recruiter, your grandmother, mother, friend’s mother, etc to read!,

Revenge Retaliation Resent Resist Refuse Repel Repress Respect Restitution Renew Reconciliation Resolution Redefine Regroup Be the Arrow ….