“Did you hear?” Great, I thought, as my friend Ben* recounted the latest gossip. “No, what happened?” another chimed in. “Well, Jess* told me that she saw Kate* and Jen* making out in the girls bathroom!” “What?! That’s a total lie!” I attempted. The rumors people make up! Even if it was true, why would someone be so shallow-minded to spread something like that? “Lesbians!” someone shouted. The room went a-buzz. Soon everyone knew! Everyone, like lions watches their prey, fell silent when Kate and Jen walked into the auditorium. Staying clear of them, my seventh grade peers quickly parted. I was sure Kate and Jen suspected something because teens’ absurd whispering could be heard from across the room.
Kate and Jen both left early from the dance.
I left early too, my stomach ached with guilt. Why didn’t I stand up for them? What could I have done? I figured that was my problem.

Over the next few days, I felt conflicted. Should I just laugh with my friends about it? Should I diss my friends and hangout with Kate and Jen? One way I would be cowardice, the other I would lose friends. Neither of those options sounded very good. Over the next few days, I also noticed that Kate and Jen didn’t have the same gusto; they didn’t talk much and ignored the comments spoken to them. One day, when no one else was around, I quietly told Jen I liked her shoes. When she beamed, I knew I had done the right thing. The next day Jen came up to me again and sheepishly asked if I wanted to be her friend. When I replied “sure”, she took me by surprise with a friendly hug. I realized that Jen didn’t need judgements from her peers, she needed acceptance.
I found something good in Jen no one else found. Like most rumors, Kate and Jen were victims of ignorance and hate. I’ve learned kids bully to feel better about themselves. If they had a bad day, they justify it right to take it out on an easy target. That’s wrong. Discrimination and hate are killers in society! It has been reported that 1 million people commit suicide each year! How can bullying be worth the loss of life? Kids can learn that they can make the world a better place by treating others the way they want to be treated. If someone is down on hope or just having a bad day, find something good about them. Like I noticed Jen’s shoes, you can notice their shirt, or their smile! You can take someone out of a bad time with just a nice little comment! You might even make a new friend! Like John Wooden said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” I encourage you to only notice the good someone has to offer, and ignore the bad, truly it is all that should matter.


*Not his/her real name