Welcome to the simulation titled Safe & Caring Schools for Students. This is a transcript of the simulation designed for screenreaders.
This experiential learning program was designed to foster safer schools through awareness and support for others. You will learn how to recognize behaviors of concern in a friend or classmate, practice talking with a friend in distress, and explore ways to safely report any concerns.
PIC 0: A title card appears with the words: “Recognizing Behaviors of Concern.”
Hi, I'm Cara. As a high school senior, I've learned a few things. For example: chemistry wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, dancing like an idiot at homecoming is super fun, and Shakespeare might not be for me.
PIC 1: Cara, a young student, can be seen sitting in front of a school in the background.
I also learned the value of having an adult I can talk to. It can help when I’m feeling stressed or don’t know what to do. I want my classmates to have that, too.
You can make a difference for someone by connecting them to that kind of support.
Sometimes we hear or see things that make us concerned for a friend or a classmate. This exact thing happened to me a while back, when my classmate Jake said something that was a little, I dunno.
He was saying things like, “I've been pushed around for the LAST time, they're gonna pay.” Sounding like he was maybe thinking about hurting someone. But I wasn’t sure.
PIC 2: A thought bubble appears next to Cara. Within, an image of Jake appears saying the quote.
I had so many questions swirling through my head, like: Do I talk to a teacher? Does that make me a "snitch?" Would he get in trouble? If I didn't say something and someone got hurt, would that be on me?
PIC 3: The questions appear written inside the thought bubble.
I want to share my story and what it taught me, so that if you find yourself in a situation like mine, you’ll know what to do.
I learned that the answer is to talk to an adult you trust. You know, someone you feel comfortable talking to, who really listens.
PIC 4: Next to Cara, two speech bubble icons appear. Below it are the words: “Talk to an Adult.”
But what’s enough of a big deal to say something to an adult? Like, obviously if someone threatened to: hurt themselves or hurt others, then yeah, it’s time to tell someone.
PIC 5: Next to Cara, the following words appear: “If someone threatens to hurt themselves or others, tell someone.” An arrow points and highlights the word “Tell.”
But a lot of times, stuff happens that isn’t so clear. And it's hard to tell if a friend or classmate is having a rough time and might be thinking about hurting themselves or someone else.
I don’t know about you, but I understand things better with examples. So let's look at a few.
My teammate Avery is usually this super fun, outgoing, social girl. But lately, I’ve noticed a change – she seems withdrawn and quiet and she hasn't been hanging out with anyone, it’s weird.
PIC 6: The screen changes to a close up of an image of Avery. Next to her are the descriptions that Cara mentioned.
After she didn't do well at her track meet, she posted a status saying “Another race, another reason to jump off a bridge”.
PIC 7: Next to Avery, a social media post is shown with the status message.
When I asked her about it, she shrugged it off, and said she was just joking. I hope she wasn’t serious, but I can’t be sure.
So what do you think? Do I need to talk to someone like a teacher or a counselor?
PIC 8: Cara reappears on screen, sitting in front of the school.
The fact that she hasn't been spending much time with friends lately has me wondering what's going on with her. But there could be a lot of reasons why, and you know, that's something I could just talk to her about.
PIC 9: A thought bubble with an image of Avery appears next to Cara. Inside, the captions read: “Avery hasn’t been spending much time with friends lately.”
But her post about killing herself concerns me. Just because she said it was a joke doesn't mean she isn’t thinking about it.
PIC 10: The thought bubble shows Avery’s social media status message.
In this case, I would make sure I told an adult, someone who could check in with her.
PIC 11: The words “Talk to an Adult” reemerge in the thought bubble next to an image of Avery. Question marks can be seen floating around.
Let's take a look at another scenario.
Reid’s sister was recently convicted of an armed robbery and his classmates have been teasing him about it, saying things to him like, “You gonna rob me too?” and laughing as they walk away.
Before his sister went to jail, she gave Reid a butterfly knife to defend himself, and he’s been posting videos of himself doing knife tricks.
PIC 12: A close up image of Reid appears. Next to him is the description that Cara described.
Reid’s going through a lot. I’ve been teased about my fair share of things over the years and it hurts, but this is more than just that.
PIC 13: Cara reappears on screen.
Reid hasn't done anything wrong, but his sister is in trouble with the law, he has a knife, knows how to use it, and he’s being picked on.
PIC 14: Next to Cara, a thought bubble appears with an image of Reid inside and the captions: “Reid has a knife and has been picked on.”
He could really use an adult he trusts to talk to. To make sure he’s okay and has a place to vent and share what's going on.
PIC 15: The words “Talk to an Adult” reemerge in the thought bubble next to an image of Reid. Question marks can be seen floating around.
This can help Reid now and in the future, so he knows he has someone he can turn to.
Let's take a look at another scenario.
At school, Peter often talks about his interest in hunting, and shows his friends pictures of a hunting bow he’s saving up to buy. He told his friends, “with a shot to the heart, a deer would be dead before it hit the ground.”
PIC 16: A close up image of Peter appears. Next to him is the description that Cara described.
While hunting is definitely not my thing, it’s something a lot of people like and there’s nothing wrong with that.
PIC 17: Cara reappears on screen.
But here’s the thing. If you're worried, talk to an adult; they can make the call so you don’t have to stress about it.
PIC 18: The words “Talk to an Adult” reappear in an image circle next to Cara.
It’s often hard to tell if someone is more or less okay and just going through something. Or if it’s more than that.
You never really know, and the only way to figure it out is to know more about what’s going on with them.
A trusted adult can help figure out what’s going on with someone and what kind of help they might need, now and in the future.
PIC 19: Next to Cara, the words change to “A Trusted Adult can help figure things out.”
Talking to someone about your concerns shows you care.
PIC 20: Next to Cara, the words then change to “You Care.” A heart icon appears within the word graphic.
When my friend Jake came to me, it was hard to know what to say to him.
But now I know I needed to show him that I cared, that I understood where he was coming from, and encourage him to talk to an adult he trusts.
PIC 21: Next to Cara, the words change a bulleted list with the following text: “How to Help a Friend: Show you care, show you understand the situation, encourage him to talk to an adult.”
You’re going to have a chance now to practice this conversation playing as me, talking to Jake.
PIC 22: A shot with the images of Cara and Jake is shown on a blue background. A speech bubble with the words “Talk to Jake” can be seen coming from Cara’s image.
Just remember, you’re there to help, in any way you can.
PIC 23: A screen appears which describes the badges system for this conversation. Text reads: “In this conversation you’re going to get the chance to practice the three techniques you just learned: understanding, showing empathy, and referral. At the end of the conversation you’ll be offered feedback on the choices you made. You’ll get a badge in gold, silver, or bronze for each technique to show how well you used it.” Gold, Silver, and Bronze badge icons can be seen below the text.