Looking
for a little confidence boost before heading back to class? Bella Thorne’s got
the answer. The
Shake It Up star is
currently teaming up with her co-star Zendaya as part of Disney’s
Friends for Change Ambassadors,
and they’re hard at work inspiring kids to take a stand against bullying,
helping to make the world a better place.
As part of the program, B and Z recently hit up the Free
The Children’s Leadership Academy in Arizona, where they participated in a
series of workshops designed to give youth leaders a deeper understanding of
their leadership styles. Pretty cool, right?
It’s no secret Bella’s fallen victim to school bullying in
the past due to her dyslexia. But it’s only made her stronger. Here, she shares her best tips for dealing with bullies, and how we can all be leaders this
school year.
GL: What’s the best thing a girl can do when she’s face-to-face with a bully?
Bella: Walk away.
It’s that easy. Sometimes people get scared in a situation where they can’t
walk away, and that’s when you know it’s bad. They’re too scared to walk away
and so they just put up with it.
What's the
best thing a girl can do if she sees somebody being bullied?
Run
and tell a teacher because they will bring the kid in for bullying. Then
they’ll have to call their parents, and no kid in school wants their parents to be
called.
So true! What
about something girls can do if they see a friend being bullied?
Help
them. Don’t just watch and be a bystander. I know that while I was being bullied
[for my dyslexia], I always wanted someone to come and rescue me.
What if you said something mean to someone—when’s the best time to apologize?
The
second you say it. Apologize immediately and say you didn’t mean it like that.
Because once the damage is done, it’s done, and there’s nothing you can do
about that.
The Friends
for Change program also focuses on being a leader. What are some
characteristics a leader embodies?
I
think everyone can be [one]! As long as you’re doing the right thing and you’re
following your heart, that’s [being] a leader.
What’s one
small way a girl can become a leader this school year?
Make
sure you’re always studying. Personally, for Zendaya (her mom and dad are
teachers) and me, that’s a big thing—and obviously it’s also a big thing for
your future.
What’s one
thing every girl should remember when walking into her first day of school?
Look
straight [ahead] and walk like it’s your last walk, hunnie. Act like you’re walking
down the runway.
Catch a peek at Bella and Zendaya’s experience at Free The
Children’s Leadership Academy below…
For
more info on how you can start putting those leadership skills to good use,
CLICK HERE.
How
are you going to become a leader this school year? Blog about it, babes.
BY KELLY MYSLINSKI AND PATRICIA MCNAMARA ON 8/15/2012 10:00:00 AM
POSTED IN entertainment, television, Disney, Shake It Up, celebrity interviews, Celebs, Bella Thorne, school, bullying 101, how to deal with a bully, back to school, first day back, bust first day fears, BTS Q & A, leadership 101, self-esteem