According to the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, one in four students ages 12 to 18 is bullied in school. The Foundation also notes that about 160,000 students skip school every day due to bullying. Despite growing awareness, many students still face verbal harassment, exclusion, and cyberbullying that leave emotional scars. Whether it takes place in person or online, bullying damages a student’s confidence and threatens the sense of safety that every young person deserves in an educational environment.

As a result, FCHS designated October as anti-bullying month, and students were encouraged to wear orange on Oct. 21, Unity Day, and also participate in a Unity Day Bead Challenge. Organized by SGA members Molly McCall and Sophie Pace, the event began when students were each given a beaded necklace upon arrival at school, and encouraged to challenge others to rock-paper-scissors matches to win more beads.

The result was halls full of laughter and friendly competition as students and teachers joined in. By the end of the day, senior Colton Smith emerged victorious with 86 beads, earning candy and Chick-fil-A gift cards. The event was designed to remind everyone that unity and kindness can be built through simple moments of connection and joy.

“I think defining the specifics of bullying is important due to navigating conflict and prioritizing the severity. It is natural to have disagreements and ‘play in a joking manner’. However, that is why it is important to understand bullying in its full integrity,” said FCHS counselor Heaven Chumley.

In recent years, some schools have made progress through anti-bullying initiatives that promote empathy, inclusion, and digital responsibility. According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, programs designed to teach kindness, communication skills, and conflict resolution have proven valuable in reducing harmful behavior. However, change appears to depend on the efforts of students, teachers, and parents. Some argue that a safe and respectful school culture cannot exist without total participation from everyone alike.

“Bullying is a nationwide concern due to dislike, hate, one’s inability to look beyond themselves, and separation. Instead of honoring and exploring differences, people are picking on, disagreeing, or stigmatizing others without taking the time to learn and be kind. I believe in making progress, we must first know that something is a problem. FCHS knows that bullying is real, and we are bringing awareness, resources, policies, and disciplinary action to stand against bullying,” said Chumley.

Standing up to bullying does not always require confrontation. Small actions, such as offering support to someone who has been bullied, choosing not to engage in gossip, or reporting bullies, can have a powerful impact. When individuals take accountability for the choices they make, they help shape an environment where respect is the standard, rather than the exception.

To encourage students to stand up against bullying, the Counseling Department distributed bookmarks to all students on Nov. 4. The bookmarks give students tips on how to be an upstander.

“I believe the best way to stand up instead of stand by is to be proactive and realize we are a Fluco Community. That each of us has a duty to challenge without discouraging, to honor opinions instead of judgments, and to embrace one another as they are. It is amazing what one can learn from others when you truly get to know a person,” said Chumley.