The Bully Chain

MAMOU — Bronson Smith is doing his part to stop and ultimately prevent bullying in Evangeline Parish schools.
Smith has already created a poster, which is on display at the Piggly Wiggly in Mamou, and has given a presentation to the New Way Boys Home in Ville Platte about the negative impact that bullying can have, not only on the bully, but also on the individual he or she is bullying.
So who is this young man that is dispersing wisdom to people throughout the community? Is he a member of local law enforcement or possibly even a school counselor?
Neither. The anti-bullying advocate who is trying to stop bullying in local schools is actually a student himself. Smith is a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Mamou High School.
“I just tell people not to bully anymore,” said Smith, who was honored for his efforts by the Hotel Cazan with a root beer float party on Tuesday. “It hurts a person. Their feelings are hurt so much that they become a bully too. So if you switch it around then they become a good person again.”
Nearly a month ago, Smith was inspired to create a poster about how to stop bullying. The handmade poster (written in pencil, pen and crayons) proclaims, “Once you bully you start another bully!”
Smith goes on to write on the poster about the “bully chain,” which is how a nice person can talk to a bully and that bully transforms into a good person, and then the former bully talks to a bully and so on.
“I had just a bunch of feelings inside of me that I needed to let out,” Smith said.
“He just drew it and asked me to put it up for him,” mother Sherryl Fontenot said. “I never thought it would come to this. I never thought he would stand in front of a group of people like he has.”
The poster would lead to a speaking engagement as Smith’s own counselor, Evelyn Fontenot, was so impressed by the young man’s passion for the topic that she helped him speak to New Way.
“The reason he chose that topic is because he has had an issue with bullying,” Evelyn said. “He felt that he needed to do something about it. He is a firm believer that if he changes the bully then the bully will stop it.”
During his presentation, the normally shy and reserved Smith spoke to the kids about all types of bullies from those who hurt others with physical acts to those who us verbal abuse. Smith made an impact during his speech by stating that those that do not step in when someone is being bullied is a bully themselves.
“He told them that the person who does nothing is a bully too,” Evelyn said. “There were faces in the crowd that changed when he said that.”
Smith’s mother for one couldn’t be more proud of what her son is trying to do in his community.
“I am extremely proud of him,” Sherryl said. “He is just amazing.”
As for the soft-spoken Smith, he feels that he is making a difference.
“I felt like it is important,” Smith said. “I feel like I am going to change things.”