When we first met Alex Mitchell last March, he was a shy, soft spoken teen, who really didn't want to talk about his problems at school. When asked how the students treated him, he finally told us.
"They said 'you should go kill yourself,' said Alex. "You'd be doing the world a favor."
Today the hurtful words still ring in his head.
"If things hadn't taken a turn for the better we could be in a very different situation right now," said Wendi Michell, Alex's mom. "We were very lucky, we got to him in time, before it was too late. We got him some help."
Wendi turned a negative situation into a positive by starting an anti-bully group called STOPP.
"We basically decided that if they weren't going to do anything we were going to do something," said Wendi.
Both Alex and Wendi said this school year is much better.
"This year the school sent the message early that bullying was not going to be tolerated, and the difference is amazing," said Wendi.
The eighth grader said he has been picked on twice this year, but says it doesn't compare to last year's constant bullying.
"I think that's just teasing, so it's not just as bad like when 500 people are saying it," said Alex.
Both Alex and Wendi want to send the message that bullying is never okay.
"You have to make them be accountable for what's happening and bullying in any form should not be tolerated."
Wendi and her group STOPP have raised $2,500 to bring a national anti-bully expert to give a talk. Kirk Smalley from the anti-bullying group Stand for the Silent will give a presentation tonight, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center.
Sonya Goins, reporting
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