It should go with out saying that bullies has no place in society. Not now, not ever, and those of us unfortunate enough to encounter it in the work place, at school, or at home, should do our utmost to root it out.
That can be easier said than done, of course, which tends to be why stopping bullies as early as possible is so vitally important.
Children who bully often act out due to their own insecurities and inner struggles. Guiding them early can help correct harmful behavior and prevent it from carrying into adulthood.
That said, those who stand up to bullies—or intervene when they see someone being mistreated—deserve real respect. It takes courage to confront someone trying to make another’s life miserable, especially when many choose to look the other way.
Thankfully, a few years ago at Lincoln Middle School in Wisconsin, three teenagers knew the difference between right and wrong. When a young girl was being targeted, they stepped in—and their actions made all the difference.
Scooter Terrien, Chase Vasquez, and Miles Rodriguez may seem like ordinary teenagers, but their actions proved otherwise when they stepped in to stop a group of bullies from harassing cheerleader Desiree Andrews.
Desiree, who has Down syndrome, may have struggled with words at times, but she never hesitated to express herself through dance and music. As a dedicated member of the cheerleading squad, she brought energy and spirit to every game. Sadly, during one event, her enthusiasm drew cruel taunts from a group who thought it amusing to mock her.
That’s when the boys stepped in showing that real strength lies in standing up for others.
As it turns out, Desiree is a close friend of Scooter, Chase, and Miles—and they were determined to stand by her. So when they witnessed bullies mocking her during a timeout, the boys quickly came up with a plan that was both bold and compassionate.
“We watched for a moment to make sure we were seeing it right,” Scooter recalled.
Once they realized exactly what was happening, they didn’t hesitate. Leaving the bench during the break, they walked straight over to confront the bullies.
With the entire school looking on, the boys took a courageous stand in defense of Desiree—just when she needed it most.
The bullies were swiftly silenced. Though it may have seemed like a simple act, it left a lasting impact on Desiree and her family.
Fighting back emotion, her father later said, “I just wanted to let them know, as a father, how much I appreciated it.”
Watch more about the boys’ bravery in the video below:
