We should all live by principles that encourage us to accept each other and make others feel welcomed. Unfortunately, we do not always see these values in our society today. Instead, we see divisiveness, rudeness and a lot of pain. What we also see, and what concerns me the most, is younger kids in school being picked on and spoken harshly to because of how they look, talk, act, or what they believe. This hurts me the most because these kids are our little sisters, our little brothers, our cousins, and oftentimes our little nieces and nephews.

Just when I think I know why this is happening, I second guess myself. I have read that oftentimes kids bully their peers because they have not learned how to properly handle conflict. And let’s face it, there has been a lot of conflict lately surrounding the presidential election. So while this could be why kids bully, I become more hopeful that it can be stopped. After all, bullying is mostly a learned behavior.

School is a place to feel welcomed and safe, a place to learn, grow and have fun with friends; and children should not be robbed of these opportunities. Institutions like school are supposed to give kids power. So let’s take our power back. Let’s all work together and practice principles like kindness, trust and understanding to make the bullying stop. Because no matter whom our parents voted for, it is up to us to help our little sisters and brothers, and all others to feel safe in school.

A famous author named Steven Covey once said, “You recognize these principles because they are common to every society that prospers and endures.”