PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – With children back in school across the region, students in New York’s North Country produced a video to remind their peers about the dangers of bullying and steps to take to help someone who’s struggling.
“I think it is going to send a good message out for the beginning of the school year, that if you see something like that happening, you need to tell somebody or stand up for that person,” said Amelia Blantchley, a Plattsburgh High School sophomore in the group Encore Acappella, which released an anti-bullying video this week.
“It definitely makes a lot of — especially middle and high school students — that being a bystander can negatively impact someone’s life,” said Nabil Arja, a member of the group.
The video tells the story of a student who feels lost and alone, only to find themselves being uplifted by a popular classmate, eventually helping them find purpose.
Caelum Gadway, a senior and the lead singer in the group, says they chose the song “Creep” by Radiohead because of how it resonated with the teens. However, they took their own creative liberty in changing the lyrics to make it uplifting for kids. “A way to twist it and have a happy resolution,” Gadway said.
Cody Hampton, the school’s music teacher, says the video is about helping others if they’re struggling. “It’s easy to watch it happen and say nothing. But sometimes doing the hard thing is the right thing and ultimately the message we were trying to portray,” he said.
A poignant message that the students say they will carry with them. “You really should have empathy and step into somebody else’s shoes. And if you see them having a hard time, ask them if they’re okay or even just sit next to them and start a conversation with them,” said group member Georgia Lunan.
“I think it is very important and that is something that I will base my whole life around — don’t be a bystander, be an upstander,” Gadway said.
