Today marks World Day Of Bullying Prevention, a global movement dedicated to raise awareness of the devastating effects of bullying and encouraging people to take a stand against it.

Sadly, this is a reality in many schools throughout the world and leaves deep emotional scars that could prevail throughout their lives.

As seen in the image above, Sophomore Mateo Cornejo reaches out to help and comfort a student in need. This simple gesture captures the essence of what today is all about- taking action, showing compassion and standing up for those in need.

After the encounter, Mateo Cornejo stated” I don’t like seeing people affected by this, we need to raise awareness and take action”

Bullying doesn’t just affect someone’s self confidence, it also leads to depression, anxiety and sometimes long term mental effects. Schools should be a secure environment for everyone, yet too many people have experienced harassment, verbal, or physical abuse.

According to studies 1 in 5 students report being bullied, which is precisely why awareness of this issue needs to be raised.