Daniel's Story
Daniel Mendez, 16
Daniel Mendez was an amazing kid. He was funny, intelligent, nice, athletic, caring, and loving. Daniel was an honor roll student, a football player, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, studying karate. He dreamt of going to university in San Diego and studying law. Beginning in 6th grade, Daniel was tormented and harassed by others. He could never understand why. He tried to make the bullies like him. He wanted to be friends with everyone. Many believe that only those in high-risk groups for bullying are targeted, but it can happen to anyone. Daniel was targeted simply for being too nice. He reported the bullying to school officials, which only made it worse. After years of bullying, Daniel could not help but to begin believing the horrible things that kids said to him. He came to believe that it was his fault that he was being bullied. This all became too much for him to bear, and on May 1st of 2009, Daniel was driven to ending his life.
His death shocked the community. How could this happen to him when he seemed to have the world at his feet? How could this happen in our peaceful, little community? In the middle of their shock and grief, Daniel's friends started the Cool 2 Be Kind Club. They took their pain and turned it into positive action to prevent another senseless death like this one from happening again. Ever since, Cool 2 Be Kind has been working hard to prevent bullying and make school a safe place.
Daniel kept some quotes on his bedroom wall. One was by Tupac and said "We gotta start making some changes. Let's change the way we live, change the way we eat, and change the way we treat each other. You see, the old way wasn't working so it's on us as a people to do what we gotta do to survive."
Since Daniel's death, many other kids all over the country have ended their lives due to bullying. Although they come from all walks of life, all races, color, creed, origin or sexual orientation, they all had one thing in common. They were kind.
Daniel is right. It's time for us to make some changes. Let's make it Cool 2 Be Kind.
His death shocked the community. How could this happen to him when he seemed to have the world at his feet? How could this happen in our peaceful, little community? In the middle of their shock and grief, Daniel's friends started the Cool 2 Be Kind Club. They took their pain and turned it into positive action to prevent another senseless death like this one from happening again. Ever since, Cool 2 Be Kind has been working hard to prevent bullying and make school a safe place.
Daniel kept some quotes on his bedroom wall. One was by Tupac and said "We gotta start making some changes. Let's change the way we live, change the way we eat, and change the way we treat each other. You see, the old way wasn't working so it's on us as a people to do what we gotta do to survive."
Since Daniel's death, many other kids all over the country have ended their lives due to bullying. Although they come from all walks of life, all races, color, creed, origin or sexual orientation, they all had one thing in common. They were kind.
Daniel is right. It's time for us to make some changes. Let's make it Cool 2 Be Kind.
