Speaking Out Against Bullying | BASTA Conference | Oct 25, 2011

In the picture L-R: Patrick Gamiao (6B), Neo Pangilinan (7B), Maya Lescano (7A) & Tammi Wusstig (6A)

What I learned at the BASTA Conference by Tammi Wusstig (6A)

I attended the BASTA Conference last October 25, 2011. BASTA stands for “Bullying Affects Students and All.” It also means “stop” in Chamorro language. From the conference, I found out that bullying is a learned behavior. This means that a person can learn bullying from others or from the media. Bullying is when a person or group torments or tortures another person or group. It is on purpose and repetitive. There are different kinds of bullying: verbal, physical, social and cyberbullying.

I also learned the “Bullying Rules”:

1. I will not bully.
2. I will try to help targets.
3. I will include left out students.
4. I will tell a higher authority.

From this conference, I learned that bullying affects its targets in many ways. As an SBCS student, I will be a Committed Christian by including new students just as the SBCS students included me on my first day of school. I will be a Responsible Member of the Community by reporting any actions of bullying I see around the school campus. I will be an effective Communicator by sharing what I learned about bullying with my peers. I will be a Critical Thinker and make sure that none of my actions are hurtful.

What I learned at the BASTA Conference by Maya Lescano (7A)

At the BASTA conference, my experience was very memorable because I learned so many lessons in life not just as a student, but as a person in general. It taught me how to make the right decisions during good or rough times. I also learned that I cannot trust my safety with anyone else. I always have to make sure that I am protected in whatever I do, wherever I am, and whoever I am with. Life is a challenge and I just need to know how to deal with it.