By: Sonia Serna
On 4.14.11 at 11:30 a.m., I decided to put on my advocacy hat and bring awareness to the Day of Silence to USC MSW students.
On 4.14.11 at 11:30 a.m., I decided to put on my advocacy hat and bring awareness to the Day of Silence to USC MSW students.
Sponsored by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the National Day of Silence is a day of action in which students across the country take some form of a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. Through their activities students can speak out against harassment and organize for change for their schools and communities.
I feel that this effort was important to bring to my colleagues and fellow change agents. I personally am passionate about standing against bullying and for equal access to a fruitful educational experience. As an individual who highly values education and equal access, I find it horrific that youth are developing suicidal thoughts, behavioral problems, and internal turmoil as a result of the bullying in schools; and, it doesn't just happen in middle school or high school it happens in colleges and in the workplace too. The most targeted population being bullied are those a part of or perceived as a member of the LGBTQI community.This issue in recent years has become so volatile and leaving youth feeling so hopeless, that students are taking their lives.This has to stop.
To show solidarity and support for this cause and awareness, USC School of Social Work students posed in front of my small cannon camera to call attention to the Day of Silence by taping their mouths or shushing the camera. The idea was prompted by fellow MSW Andrew Ollero; we wanted to showcase change agents who are against bullying.
Every student I approached was so very supportive and happy to stand against bullying. It was an awesome experience and it is encouraging that a people, on a small scale, can stand in support of a cause. Although I was sort of preaching to the choir, you got to start somewhere.
Every student I approached was so very supportive and happy to stand against bullying. It was an awesome experience and it is encouraging that a people, on a small scale, can stand in support of a cause. Although I was sort of preaching to the choir, you got to start somewhere.
For more information, please go to www.dayofsilence.org.
SOCIAL WORKERS SUPPORT THE DAY OF SILENCE
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