Jessica Barba and why her school suspended her for making a video to stop bullying

Fifteen-year-old Jessica Barba has been suspended from school for what school administrators say was creating "a substantial disruption to the school."  What did Jessica do wrong?  For an assignment in her business communications class at Longwood High School in New York, Jessica created a video about bullying.  She played a character in the six minute video who was bullied, got really depressed, and at the end takes her own life.  Jessica posted the video online, and the next day at school she says her peers were already talking about it.

Clearly, even though she included statements that the story was fictitious, school superintendent Allan Gerstenlauer says it caused a serious disruption and even caused one partent to contact police in fear that a child had actually hurt themselves.

What do we know?  We know that 1 in 4 college students have reported being bullied.   We know that bullying is repeated agressive and intimidating behavior that leads children and young teens to be depressed, and in some severe cases, take their own lives.

The sad truth is that suicide is a leading cause of death for children and teenagers.  One third of all suicides among young adults age 15-24 can be linked to bullying.

Jessica says she gave up the password to her online video to an assistant principal in the hopes of negotiating a shorter punishment, but national media, including credible sources like NBC, is reporting that Jessica is suspended for five days pending a school hearing.

Do you agree or disagree with Jessica's video?  Do you think it had a place online, or even a place in her school, and was it appropriate for a school assignment?

Millions of kids are impacted by bullying at school, and many of them are taking a stand and doing things to get the attention of school administrators.  To learn more about bullying and what you can do to keep kids happy and safe in your community keep ready my blog.

My advice for making your talent perfect at the state pageant

I'm really excited about the state pageant coming up in June.  Not only is it one of the best parts of being Miss Northwest Territory, it is also a chance for me to perform my talent on a big stage in front on a huge crowd.  Being on the state stage is exciting and there are a few things you can do to help be ready for your moment in the spotlight.

Here is my advice for talent at the state pageant:

1. Drink plenty of water.  This is important all week during the state pageant, but it is especially important that you are hydrated for talent.  Talent takes a lot of energy and endurance, and being dehydrated will keep your body from letting you give your best performance.  You don't have to go overboard with the water.  Just be sure you are drinking enough for you to stay healthy and hydrated.
2. Avoid caffeine.  We all need a little boost now and then, and heaven knows the scent of the coffee pot can be addictive.  Red Bull might give you wings, but it can also give you jitters, cause headaches and lots of other problems when your artificial high starts to crash.  We should all drink caffeinated beverages a little less, and you should definitely avoid them the day you perform your talent.
3. Stretch and warm-ups.  Make sure you do a little warm-up before your talent performance, and don't forget to stretch.  Most of us have a little routine of how we like to get ready, and sticking to that routine is how we are successful.  With all the excitement at state it can be easy to skip your warm-ups, but make sure you are ready to give your best performance of the year by sticking to your warm-up routine.
4. Extra copies of your sheet music or choreography.  Back-ups are a good thing, so be sure to bring an extra copy of your sheet music or the notes on your choreography.  I sometimes like to tape things up where I can see them, so you might want to bring an extra copy just for that.  Getting your talent perfect on stage is what is most important, so there is no shame in studying.
5. A little extra bling.  We focus so much on the talent performance itself that sometimes we forget that little extra something that helps us shine.  That extra bling is important for two reasons.  First, a little sparkle can help you shine on stage.  Maybe it helps the judges see your movements a little better or helps them keep their eyes on you for the entire performance.  The second reason is just as important.  Find a piece of bling that makes you feel really good about yourself, and when you put it on you'll feel like a rock star.

I can't wait to see everyone at the state pageant in June!  Look for Team Presley starting on the first night of prelims and be sure to get your signs and buttons!