JANUARY 2010 – Westside Newspaper
Eddie Peterson is no ordinary high school junior. Confident yet humble, he has helped initiate a unique in-house Big Brothers/Big Sisters program at Western Mennonite School. And his hope to stop bullying has instantly spread through the school.

As defined by the edit-friendly encyclopedia Wikipedia, “bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a certain way to gain power over another person.” While Western students claim that physical bullies are not at the school, they admit there are emotional bullies that inflict just as much pain, only through different means – teasing, rumors, and jokes, mostly. And the biggest barrier, they say, between the middle school and high school students.

His freshman year, Peterson (among others) were given a presentation on bullying. Guidance counselor Darlene Fritz spoke and discussed the issue in Peterson’s health class, starting a conversation that quickly turned into action. “The students began talking about how the seniors were treating them, telling them what to do as if they had control of them. But after voicing their feelings, one student made an impacting observation, ‘We do it to the sixth graders’.” Seeing the chain reaction, Peterson and company, with the help of Fritz, formed the WMS Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.

The national Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization pairs adult mentors with kids ages 6-18, helping them find their potential; it focuses on community involvement to help struggling youth. For Western, the successful model seemed perfect for its needs, so they applied it to the student community. Middle school students involved are matched up with high school students designed to give the younger students a chance to learn from the older ones, and the older students a chance to mentor the younger ones.

Activities and encouragement the students engage in include simple acts, such as saying “hi” in the halls or wishing each other happy birthday. Some choose to interact outside of school, becoming Facebook friends, texting each other during the summer, going to the other’s athletic or choir events, even having their parents take them out for lunch.

The first year had an impressive 83 members. This year, its second year, a staggering 135 middle and high school students volunteered membership. “I have no idea why half the student population has joined. I guess the kids see the need and are excited to have a way to encourage each other,” remarks Fritz.

As the student coordinator, Peterson loves it that his peers are responding so well to the program. Even though he does not have a “little brother”, he finds joy coordinating it, “They’re all my little brothers and sisters.”

One such “little sister” he continually asked to join is Haleigh Fischl. A WMS seventh grader and West Salem resident, Fischl continually turned Peterson down. It wasn’t until the program’s Christmas party this past December that she stepped up and decided to join – but not as a little sister. Using her gifts in leadership and service, Fischl joined as Peterson’s assistant.

Fischl may easily be misinterpreted by her blazing pink hair, but once she wipes it out of her face, the first – well second – thing noticeable is her smile. She shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders when asked if she’s been bullied, but understands the conflict that comes with it, “I had two friends who were fighting for two months, which was hard because I was in the middle. While I haven’t experienced being bullied, it’s the rumors and mean-talk I hear that bothers me.”

It’s important for Fischl to be involved. A lover of hard work, she decided it was best to use her gifts in an area she felt passionate about. She also likes that the middle and high schoolers are interacting and friendly with each other. “Middle schoolers feel cool that they are associated with a high schooler, plus we get a chance to learn about high school before experiencing it ourselves.”

Peterson couldn’t agree more: “It’s nice to have a mixed group of friends, people to look up to for the middle schoolers.”

Fritz is simply in amazement and reveling in the students’ accomplishments. “Both Eddie and Haleigh are natural leaders. I guess they just want to break the cycle.”

Haleigh’s advice for kids who get bullied:
-          Even though it’s hard, ignore the comments and what happens
-          Talk to someone, a friend or teacher, someone you trust and feel safe around 

Haleigh’s mediating method:
-          Ask people involved what’s going on
-          Ask questions about the situation to get to the heart of the matter
-          Remember you can’t make people change how they feel about each other