Cover Letter

30 April 2012

Alie Shipkowski

Cover Letter

English Department

East Fifth Street

Greenville, NC, 27858

Dear Professor Tetterton,

I decided to edit my project 2 blog for my e-portfolio.  In my blog, I discussed the issue of bullying in high schools against teenagers in the LGBT community.  I started off by re reading all of my blog entries out loud to see if I could remove any extra words or grammar mistakes I missed earlier.  I fixed a lot and in the process found some incomplete sentences which became complete after the revision process.  The annotated bibliographies were also changed so more details and reasoning were put behind what was said.  I feel like my blog entries are much better than they were before and hope to get a better grade.  A lot of the revisions that were made were from the comments that you had made on my original blog. I wanted to say thank you for the constructive criticism, it helped tremendously and I started to open up more with my writing instead of being so strict.

This year in English 1200, I really opened up in my writing and spoke my opinion more when it was necessary. The first paper we were assigned was a research-based analysis, I chose to write about texting and driving. I felt connected with this topic and my paper showed this in many ways. It was a little opinionated but it made the paper so much better than just facts. The information and tips that you gave us in class and out truly helped me write this paper.

The next project that was assigned was students had to create a blog and do at least 5 entries about a controversial topic. I decided to do bullying in schools around the nation against gay teens.  This project was the one where I feel like my writing went to another level in ways of opening up about what I really felt. It hit home because a young boy who went to my high school decided to commit suicide because of cyber bullying. No one deserves to be treated like that and I felt like I got my point across about how much of an issue it really is.

The third and last project I choose to do an argument-based analysis about how more sec education in schools would potentially decrease the number of teenage girls getting pregnant at such a young age.  I felt like this wasn’t my best writing compared to the first project.  It was a well written paper but I feel like I could have done more with the topic.  This paper was when I used a lot of the writing tips you taught us about and some we read about in They Say, I Say.

Your teaching really made me realize how to become a better writing, both personally and scholarly.  I strive to be the best writer I can and most of that comes from your teaching.

Thank you so much for the preparation you have given me about writing all different types of papers.

Sincerely 

Alison Shipkowski

Helping Those Who Are Being Bullied

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/10/resources_to_help_stop_bullying_0930.php

There are vast amounts of resources available for teens and parents who are struggling with bullying.  In the past few years, numerous organizations have come into play, taking a stand against bullying.  There are a few who stand out to me and seem to have the biggest impact on those involved.  If we all take the time to read about these organizations, we can learn a little more about how to stop bullying in schools around the nation today.

One of the biggest organizations against bullying is called The Pacer Center, which is the Nation Center of Bullying Prevention.  On their website, they teach ways to help prevent bullying, and ways one should respond if they were to see it happening in their own school.  Its important to know what to do in situations like these.  The worst thing to do when seeing someone get pushed around or bullied is to walk away and not take action in stopping it.  Another organization that teens are using more and more, is an online school devoted to getting your high school diploma, while putting you in the safest environment possible.  Some public and private schools are still having a hard time adjusting to having students in the LGBT community. This online school gives them a chance to have a regular high school experience without the possibility of being bullied.  To me, this idea has some pros and cons.  Students shouldn't have to take a last resort, having to take high school online just because they are considered "different".  However, if its their choice, to make the decision where and how they finish high school, then that's fine by me. It is important that students feel comfortable in their own skin and shouldn't have to change for anyone.

Organizations are trying to get the attention of students around the globe, doing what they can to stop the problem of bullying.  Most aren't aware of how much of a problem it is, but if you take a look at the numbers and how many parents and students are effected, it is a very big eye opener.  Students shouldn't have to resort to online classes because they feel threatened in a normal school.  They should be allowed to go to school anywhere they want and feel safe, even if other classmates consider them different.

The Ellen Degeneres Show. Anti-Bullying Resources. Resources to Help Stop Bullying. The Pacer Center. GLBTQ HighSchool Online. 21 March 2012. 

This article mainly gives the reader a list of organizations that aim towards ending the problem of bullying.  You can click onto each website and read about how the organization works and how they take a stand against this growing concern. Also, by visiting the organizations, readers also have a chance to join one and donate to the cause.

Ellen Degeneres posted this on her website for her show, to make a point that she is also pro the idea of trying to stop bullying.  This nation wide problem hits home for Ellen because she is a member of the LGBT community.  With having a celebrity such as Ellen having this on her website, it gets others thinking that if she is involved, than others should too.  They wonder, if someone famous like her is doing it, than why can't everyone else get involved as well?

How to Stop Bullying in Schools

 http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/how-do-we-stop-bullying-in-schools/

In, "How Do We Stop Bullying in Schools" by Kara Tamanini, takes readers through steps people in the school systems can take to help stop bullying.  It's obvious, to both teachers and students, that bullying occurs in almost every school nation wide. Whether it be against your race, religion or the biggest issue, your sexuality.  In my opinion, this is so wrong on so many levels.  Teens who find themselves to be gay are having a hard time adjusting in the school districts around the country.  Their fellow classmates tend to bash them for being different when really, all they are is being true to themselves.  There are ways to stop the bullying that everyone needs to consider. Nothing good comes out of innocent teenagers being pushed around because of who they choose to love.

One of the main factors in bullying that people don't tend to realize is how the student's parents act around them in the household.  If parents lash out about their child being gay, it sets off the image that it isn't okay to live that lifestyle.  And if teens have to put up with their parent's harsh opinions, it only seems like they have to take it from their classmates as well. This is completely incorrect.  Anyone should have the choice to love who they want to love and be accepted for that.  Not just accepted by their peers, but by their family members as well.  Another factor that the parents play a role is that bullies tend to come from households of parents who fight, or are violent towards one another and their children.  Parents need to play a role in counseling their children, whether they are the ones picked on, or the one who is doing the bullying. It's simple, if your own parents know that you're in trouble and they do nothing about it, who else do you turn to? Your mother and father are supposed to be supportive and have your back through anything, especially the hard times of being bullied.  They can also get involved by contacting the school and suggesting they take steps to stop bullying.  Its their job to stop the hateful words being said in their own hallways.

Adults, whether it be teachers or parents, need to take action in stopping the bullying problem completely.  Without them telling us that its the wrong thing to do, students don't consider it to be bad and most likely will keep doing it or progressively get worse.  Parents need to be supportive of their kids no matter what.  If their gay, so what? The love from you're mother and father is supposed to be unconditional.  They will always have your back through the good and the bad.  Adults are the ones that children look up to the most.  If they take steps towards stopping bullying, their listeners will also do the same, creating a chain reaction effect.

Tamanini, Kara. How Do We Stop Bullying in Schools? Psych Central. 20 March 2012.

Kara Tamanini wrote with the intent of informing her readers the steps necessary to take when trying to stop bullying in schools.  She gives information for what students, teachers and parents can do to help teenagers they know through this rough time.

Tamanini really emphasizes the problem that occurs frequently in almost every school district around the nation.  When people read the steps we can all take part in helping stop something so harsh as students being picked on because of their sexuality.  The most adults read about bullying, the more prone they'll be to take action.  With her words of encouragement and want to stop bullying, it shows we can all do the same and it will make a huge difference in the world and save innocent teenagers from unnecessary hurt.

Teens Committing Suicide Over Bullying

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/gay-buffalo-teen-commits-suicide-eve-national-bullying/story?id=14571861#.T2dX2dUoBIE

In our nation today, more gay teens are finding it very hard to live with the bullying put on them by fellow classmates.  Bullies attack teens both in school settings and online by discriminating them personally.  Parents and teachers see this problem happening, but tend to not take the action necessary to stop gay teens from feeling so horrible about themselves. It has gotten to the point in our society that some teens decide to go as far as committing suicide because the amount of bashing they get each and every day.

In September 2011, Jamey Rodemeyer, an innocent 14 year old boy from Buffalo, NY, killed himself after being bullied online for over a year.  He had posted videos to other gay teens stating that things would get better soon.  Him posting such personal videos caused his fellow classmates to post horrible things to him across the internet.  The most hurtful words were posted on his formspring account stating that "he should go die and no one would even care."  So one day, after being tormented long enough, Jamey posted a farewell message and committed suicide.  Further action should have been taken into account when these words were posted to an innocent 14 year old boy, who was trying to stick up for what he believes in.  An innocent life was lost because of hurtful words spoken.  Even though these postings were reported to counselors and his parents, they believed that he had grown stronger than this.  The first thing that comes to mind when I read this, are you serious? No teenager is strong enough to manage being bullied and having no one to stand up for them.

Even if his parents thought that he was strong enough to handle these harsh words, someone should've been watching over his shoulder to see if everything was okay.  Someone can say that they are okay, when they're really just putting up a strong front for those watching.  That's exactly what Jamey, and a number of other gay teens are doing today.  Stand up for what you believe in, even though others may think its wrong.  Gay teens should not be the only ones sticking up for themselves, we as a nation should stand up against the bullying that occurs every single day to these teens.  No one in their right mind could think that this is okay in the world, because it is not.

James, Susan Donaldson. Gay Buffalo Teen Suicide on Eve of National Bullying Summit. Written: 21 September 2012.

James informs us about a 14 year old boy, who committed suicide after being cyber bullied on his formspring account and videos he posted about bullying, for about a year.  He encouraged others it would turn out to be okay, but he couldn't put up a strong front anymore and decided to kill himself over harsh words that someone decided to say.

His parents and teachers thought that he was strong enough to stand up for himself, but no one can do that by themselves.  He did not have the complete support of his parents behind him, and I think that contributed the most to his choice of suicide.  Someone can't just ignore the fact of someone stating they want you dead or that you don't deserve to live on this planet anymore.  No one has to the right to say that to someone else.  The nation as a whole really needs to look for the signs of bullying, and have a chance to stop it before its too late.

Homophobia

http://www.economist.com/node/21548961

The main reason why teens are being bullied in schools is  because a lot of the students are homophobic.  Homophobia is defined as "the unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality".  Most teenagers would not categorize themselves as homophobic, but when they look back on the way they acted towards gays, it is clear that they have a problem with classmates in the LGBT community.  Many don't want to admit that they judge classmates based on their sexuality.  An article was published about a series of videos posted entitled "It Gets Better".  The videos are to assure gay teens that even though it may be bad now and there's nothing to look forward to in life, it will only get better as time goes on.

Even though some don't believe it could improve, it is statically proven that it already is.  One of the ways that bullying problems has gotten better, is the media attention that its receiving from reporters and writers.  With having the courage to speak out to everyone who is watching or reading, the word is spreading like wild fire about bullying against teens who have come out about being gay.  We do see however, in some cases that it really isn't getting better.  The word "gay" is still used to this day as a derogatory term when trying to describe someone as being stupid or weird.  It seems like it was easier many years ago when attending a school as a member of the LGBT community. Ruth Hunt, a lesbian in a secondary school 15 years ago, says that things were much easier for her then compared to now.

The main reason why so many gay teens are being bullied in schools is because of others being homophobic.  Just because someone has chosen to like someone of the same sex, does not mean that they are weird or different from you in anyway.  So what if they're gay? It doesn't make a difference of who they are on the inside.  They're still normal kids trying to live a normal life, and we as a community are really making it difficult for them to do so.  Others need to stand up for these kids because if we don't than who else will? 

The Economist. Homophobia: It's getting better, anti-gay attitudes are vanishing in schools. 3 March 2012.  Print Edition.

Homophobia is the main problem among students in schools today.  They feel like its difficult when trying to adjust with their fellow classmates who are in the LGBT community.  The truth is that it shouldn't effect your opinion of them at all.  No one should have the fear of those who are homosexual, they aren't anything to be afraid of.

Even though you might think they're different, that doesn't mean that they are bad people.  However; that's how students and even some adults are treating them in today's world.  It was not this hard for gay teens in the past.  It is not even comparable. People were more accepting and open about their sexuality.  Even though this article proves that yes, it is getting better in some schools, it doesn't change the fact that students are still struggling to this day with being considered different.

Bullying Against the Youth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrlfxgumIWs

A video was posted on which shared a message from our, President, Barack Obama, who spoke to our nation about the growing problem of bullying against the LGTB community in young teenagers.  He stresses that we need to take a stand as a country together, to help stop the discrimination that is happening all around us. The bullying problem has gotten so bad that in some instances, teens have chosen to commit suicide because they feel that no one wants them to live a health life.  In my mind, this is so wrong on so many levels.  Every single person put on this planet deserves to live a fun filled life surrounded by those who love and care for them.  Someone should not take their own life, just because of harsh words that someone has spoken about them regarding their sexuality choices.

During the past few years there have been numerous cases of children who have made the decision of coming out about their sexuality, and then have been picked on in schools, sports teams and even some of their own households.  Some don't think it is a big problem, until we read those news articles, about boys and girls who were bullied so much they decided to kill themselves to "make the world a better place".  It brings tears to my eyes that innocent teens feel like no one wants them to live.  If we as Americans take a stand in their defense, we would be able to prevent teens from feeling worthless in society.  Even though there are consequences for those who are caught bullying, it does not erase the fact that what they said is still in the minds of teens in the LGTB community.

This video should impact our nation because it has gotten to the point that the President of the United States feels its necessary to send a message.  Obama states, "I don't know what it's like to be picked on for being gay. But I do know what it's like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don't belong."  The audience should pay attention to what he is saying and take action.  I'm pretty sure that all of us at one time have felt out of place or feel like we didn't have anyone to turn to.  At that point, we probably would want someone to stick up for us and tell us everything is going to be okay.  That is the support that we need to give the teens that our suffering because they're considered different from those who are straight.  Lets be the one that these children can turn to without a doubt in their mind.  We all know inside that it is happening, but no one is standing up and fighting for those who are being picked on.  Many think that it isn't okay to be different when it really is.  Be who you want to be and not what others want you to be.

Obama, Barack. It Gets Better. Youtube. 16 March 2012.  Video.

The President of our nation, Barack Obama, made a video announcement about the problem with bullying in high schools around the country.  He is trying to get America's support to take a stand, and a pledge to the "It Gets Better" project.

Obama states that "he does know what its like to be different when growing up."  I think all teens have gone through some stage of that in life.  A stage of displacement or confusion about who they are.  However, it isn't okay when those who decide to come out about their sexuality, are the ones that are being pushed around.  By having the President make a statement about bullying, really does show how big this problem has gotten.  He wouldn't take the time and effort to do this if it wasn't a big deal, which it is.  Everyone needs to get informed about the bullying problem as soon as possible so it can be stopped now.