Welcome to the screen reader for Friend2Friend: Bullying Prevention.
This simulation builds learners' abilities to establish and maintain relationships with diverse individuals, and to demonstrate responsible upstander behaviors in school, personal, and community contexts.
Picture 1: You're on the steps of a school's entrance, just before heading home from school, your phone buzzes, and a text message appears with a link.
Unknown sender: you think you know someone, but! https://short.url/SKWRLZ
You: Uh, that doesn't sound good.
You choose to ask Mom what to do.
Text from Mom: Don't click the link. Block the number!
Okay mom. After blocking the number, your phone buzzes again! Another message, this time from Jenelle.
Jenelle: Okay what even is this? https://short.url/SKWRLZ.
Text on screen: Reluctantly clicking the link, the page opens to an image of Cashew the Squirrel, the school mascot, standing on the football field next to graffiti that reads, "Squirrels suck!" the caption reads, "Semisi Peters brain is 100% football and he's not even good at that."
Your phone buzzes again with another message from Jenelle
Jenelle: Okay when you wanted to be the mascot that was one level of weird but what's up with tagging graffiti on the football field? And also roasting Semisi?
You: Uh, what? I definitely did not do that. Someone must've put on my costume and taken the picture. Better go check out the football field. Maybe, I'll find a clue to who's framing me.
Picture 2: A football field with empty bleachers. Water bottles, some backpacks, and an extra football are strewn along the benches.
Text on screen: At the football field, Semisi Peters is the only person in sight. Semisi looks up and stops stretching.
Picture 3: Semisi is a Pacific Islander 16-year-old with medium tan skin and short black hair, wearing a gray pullover. He's frowning, and looks hurt.
Semisi: Hey, I saw what you posted in the Cashew costume, that I'm just some stupid jock. Did you come to say some of that to my face?
You: I'm sorry that happened, but it wasn't me! You have to help me clear my name.
Semisi: Know what? I gotta stretch, so, how about you just go?
You: Well, that didn't help. Better look around for the graffiti. Wait, there's nothing here. Strange. Maybe it's time to get a little advice. Something weird's going on.
You: Miss Henderson's usually in her classroom around this time. I'll head over there.
Picture 4: You enter a classroom. No students are at the desks.
Picture 5: Miss Henderson is Biracial and has medium tan skin, long brown hair, and is in her 30s. She wears glasses and a lavender sweater. She looks concerned.
Miss Henderson: Hey, what's up? You look like something's on your mind.
You: I need help, and you always have good advice.
Miss Henderson: Okay, so tell me what's going on.
Text on screen: After sharing the details of the conversation with Semisi.
Picture 6:Miss Henderson looks to the side, considering.
Miss Henderson: Hmm. Sometimes I feel like the best way to talk to someone is to listen to them, you know? Let me explain. Talking to new people can be a challenge, no matter who you are. Luckily, there are skills you can use to help, so that when you talk to someone new, you're building a solid relationship with them. I know it sounds weird to say "listen" to talk to someone, but that's part of having a conversation, showing you're genuinely listening and not just waiting to respond. This is called: Active Listening.
Active listening is sort of like repeating back what the other person said. If your friend says they stayed up all night studying and still have so much left to do, you might respond by shifting the conversation over to yourself, like, "Okay. Are we still going to the movies later?" But that doesn't show you were actively listening to what was going on with your friend. If you say, "Sounds like you're feeling overwhelmed with your work," that shows you really listened and lets them say more about how they're feeling. Give them another chance to talk before you make the conversation about yourself. This could help you with Semisi. Most of the time people don't mind helping as long as you make an effort to form a relationship first. Who knows, maybe you'll make a new friend!
Picture 7: Miss Henderson smiles encouragingly.
Miss Henderson: Listen, I have some papers to grade, but I'll be here for a while. If you want any more advice, just come back and let me know.
Picture 8: The football field.
Semisi: Oh, you again. What're you gonna ask for now?
You: You're right. When we talked before, I totally made the conversation about me.
Semisi: Yeah, you kind of did, when I was trying to tell you how fed up I was with the way people see me.
Picture 9: Semisi looks to the side, frustrated.
Semisi: I'm not this, this "stupid football player." I also write for the school paper. And, I'm pretty creative with it! But, all anyone talks about is whatever I did last game or, or how hard I tackled someone.
You: You have a lot more going on than people think, like the school paper.
Semisi: Exactly! Everyone's always like, "Semisi, you gonna win this Friday?" And in my head I'm like, "Why aren't you asking me about my review of the student play, No Treats for Bad Dogs?" Its exploration of the dog park is like, so Kafka-esque. More people should be thinking about that!
Picture 10: Semisi smiles.
Semisi: Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. You said you wanted help finding who posted that picture? I saw Avery here with a camera yesterday, but I figured it was just yearbook stuff. They take a lot of pictures for the yearbook. They usually hang out on the steps by Chase Hall. Oh, and let me give you my number. If you figure out what's actually going on, hit me up, okay? I'd like to know who was saying stuff about me.