Students at the Albuquerque Job Corps Center are participating in the Youth 2 Youth (Y2Y) campaign during the week of September 14 – September 18. The focus is to stop the violence being plagued by today’s youth. The Center’s focus has been anti-bullying. Bullying can negatively impact educational performance, erode self-esteem and self-worth, cause anxiety and depression, and lead to thoughts of self-harm. Bullying, an intentional behavior that hurts or harms someone, either physically or emotionally, is a serious issue that directly impacts thousands of students every day. As damaging as bullying is, there is hope, because bullying is an issue that can be prevented. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly a third of all students aged 12 – 18 reported having been bullied at school. Job Corps is committed to being a safe and secure environment for all young people to receive education and hands-on career training in a bully free environment. The Y2Y Ambassadors have brought attention to this very important topic on Center. On September 15, 2015, students from the Center, who have exhibited being bully-free, visited the New Mexico State Fair during Military and Police Appreciation Day to discuss ways to stand-up and stop the bullying.

During many discussions, AJCC students learned how to stop bullying:
1. Look the bully in the eye and tell him or her to stop. Tell the bully that you are not OK with the treatment you’re receiving, and make it clear that it has to end immediately.
2. Avoid escalating the situation. Teasing the bully by calling him or her names or threatening to fight is only going to make things worse. Don’t yell or take steps toward physical violence. The bully will likely respond with increased bullying, and you risk getting in as much trouble or he or she does if you’re caught participating in the situation.
3. Know when to walk away. If the situation seems threatening or dangerous, it’s best to disengage. Turn around and walk away from the bully. At a certain point, reasoning with him or her isn’t going to make a difference.
4. Tell! Not saying anything could make it worse for everyone. The person who is bullying will think it is ok to keep treating others that way.

Students will continue to spread the word on Center during the remainder of the week and in the future.

Together, they along with everyone else, can stop all violence including bullying.