She helps teens deal with bullying and much more
“The youth pastor at Old River Baptist Church asked if I’d be interested in helping lead a group for troubled teens called The Landing. After I heard a little about it, I said, ‘Absolutely.’ It’s for males and females in grades 6 through 12, and we’re averaging about 15 students per session. We’re trying to help these kids understand that what they’re going through right now is just temporary. They shouldn’t look at their teen years as their whole life. That can be pretty challenging for kids who are going through things like being bullied, who feel the need to harm themselves, or are involved in addictive behaviors like vaping.
“Bullying is a huge factor in schools these days, especially at the high school level. People say that it’s been around for years, but not like this. I mean, I was bullied as a kid. I was thrown in the trash can in the boys bathroom. But that’s nothing compared to what’s going on today. Now there’s social bullying, where someone can use an app to bully another person anonymously. You can’t track it back to whoever did it. They’re hiding behind their phones. And some of these kids are very mean. The things I’m seeing and hearing about, it’s so sad.
“No matter what they’re going through, I try to be that one solid person who is there for them, who will listen to their issues, and advise them as best I can. To be honest, this whole experience has kind of helped me to be a better parent. I talk to my own kids more. I spend at least 30 minutes with them every night. I tuck them in — even my 16-year-old. I lay next to him, and I’m like, ‘How was your day? What’s going on?’ I think it’s more important than ever to just let them know that I’m there for them.”
— Cissy Clearo
(Photo by Olivia Garza/Liv’s Looking Glass)
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