A remarkable journey

Like 41 per cent of kids in grades 4 to 7, Alicia has experienced bullying. “I was 8 years old, kids would chase me, follow me around, scream mean things at me. It made me feel really alone. School was supposed to be a safe place but they made it very unsafe for me,” recalled 19-year-old Alicia.

It had a profound effect in her life; she became someone she didn’t want to be: a bully. “At 12 I started getting into fights, by 14 I was fighting all the time. When I was bullying, I didn’t feel good but I figured if people were scared of me I wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied,” she said.

Today the smart, articulate teenager has come full circle and is passionate about changing the future for others. Through a United Way supported program Alicia is teaching young kids about bullying and discrimination.

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