Jodee blanco s birthday cards

Jodee Blanco, bullying survivor and author of The New York Times best-seller “Please Stop Laughing at Me,” recently brought her message of hope and forgiveness to the Academy of the Holy Angels.

Blanco addressed the middle school, upper school, AHA parents, and faculty at separate presentations. Her powerful, heartfelt seminar, “It’s NOT Just Joking Around,” focused on bullying survival and prevention.

“I was the kid nobody wanted to be caught dead talking to,” Blanco told students from the upper school.

Jodee blanco s birthday cards

“My school years were a nightmare.”

She described two types of popular people, highlighting the “elite leader” and the “elite tormentor.”

The auditorium fell silent as Blanco acted out a scene of bullying that vividly recalled dialogue and actions from the past.

She noted that bullying can damage people for life.

“The reason I know is because I’m damaged,” she said. “How you treat each other now is going to live long past graduation.”