PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Monday marks World Bullying Prevention Day, and a Palm Beach County organization is helping students do the right thing to combat bullying.
It's a tough topic to talk about, so Palm Springs Middle School student Andrea Bustillo writes about it.
"People who are hurt are driven to suicide. They may not go through with it, but the feelings won’t just subside," said Bustillo as she read from a poem.
Like Bustillo, many students have a story to tell.
"I do have a few friends that do get bullied," said student Miche Estime.
So they write about it.
It’s all part of a program called 'Do The Write Thing.' The goal is for middle school students to examine the impact of violence.
"It can influence more people to do good," said Micayla Hutchings, another student.
Campaign Chairman Bill Bone said that in the last two years, the organization has received more than 30,000 letters for students in Palm Beach County.
"Not only does the child get to almost unload their problems, but the adult gets to read it and perceive it and understand it a little better," said Bone.
Bone said that next week is their annual meeting with Palm Beach County school principals, an opportunity for these young students to be heard.
"Kids are writing their feelings and they are opening up," said Bustillo. "It really raises awareness with everybody, and I think communication is the first step to solving problems."