The Peer Mediation class been promoting peace all around the school. It’s the new slogan for GBHS. Peer Mediation adviser Liz Kalush-Degain and her class wanted the whole school to know how bullying can affect people.

Gabrielle “Gabe” Ford came to GBHS Dec. 14, 2009 to share her story. Gabe had a very average childhood. When she was little she loved to dance and do what any average little girl would do. But the summer before she went to high school she was diagnosed with Frederic’s ataxia, a rare genetic neuromuscular disease.

Throughout her high school years at Lake Fenton, she would get picked on everyday by her peers. She was off balanced walking through the hallways and her speech began to slur. The students at her school didn’t know what was wrong with her, but yet they still bullied her. Gabe jus remembered her high school year’s being the most difficult times of her life. She hated going to school.

Now at the age of 26, Gabe has made it her main goal to talk to students at different schools about bullying. Gabrielle also has a dog named Izzy who she looks at more than just a dog. Gabe see’s Izzy as her best friend.

Gabrielle wrote a book called “Still Standing” about anti-bullying and how she overcame it. A current teacher at Grand Blanc High School, Mrs. Tracy Stimac, was mentioned in her book. What Gabe liked most about Mrs. Stimac was that she was honest with her and she understood what she was going through. Senior Kourtney Biddle said “I like how she comes to different schools and share her story. It’s a positive thing she is doing.”

Gabrielle wants to get across to everyone that bullying can change a person’s life.
You shouldn’t bully people because they are different than you are. People should learn how to treat people the way they want to be treated.