13 Year Old Gains International Recognition In The Fight Against Bullying

March 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Thirteen year old Ashley Berry is a formerly shy, quiet girl who didn’t like speaking in front of people until she began looking for opportunities at the age of ten that allowed her to do just that.  These days you can’t get her off stage or away from the camera.  In 2009, Ashley started competing in “natural” pageants (no makeup allowed) that helped improve her confidence and gave her a desire to go out into her community and make a difference.  Now, there’s no telling where you’ll find her at any given time.  On stage in a community play or talent competition, acting or modeling in front of the camera, volunteering for any number of organizations in the community, studying to keep her Honor Roll status, attending a club or after-school activity, or writing her latest article for BYOU “Be Your Own You” Self-Esteem Magazine for Girls.

Even in the midst of her whirlwind schedule balancing school and community activities, Ashley couldn’t escape the experience that many of today’s youth are being forced to endure.  Along with the relative fame that comes with many of Ashley’s outside interests and activities, came what is most often referred to as the “mean girl” syndrome.  Suddenly, those closest to Ashley seemed to turn on her and her own life turned upside down as she spent the next two years battling depression and fear.  Berry says, “If you don’t feel accepted or find your friends turning on you, be strong enough to walk away and make new friends who do accept you for who you are.”  She goes on to say, “My personal experiences taught me that just because someone calls themselves your best friend doesn’t mean that their actions always back that up.  A true friend accepts you for who you are, is genuinely excited for your accomplishments, doesn’t talk about you behind your back, and is someone that you can confide in without fear that they will share your secrets.”

With the help of her family and teachers, Ashley gained the confidence to stand up for herself and others to help ensure that no one else go through what she did.  Ashley is now an internationally recognized anti-bullying advocate and openly shares her experiences with the media and public.  In addition to receiving various state awards for her volunteer efforts, she has been recognized as a recipient of the Teens Who Inspire Us award, as well as being featured as an Inspirational Youth by Inspire Me Today, Kids Are Heroes and We Change Worlds.  Ashley has also been featured in interviews with CNN, Deseret News, Scholastic Choices magazine, KMGH Channel 7 in Denver and is a frequent guest of The Good News with Angie Austin on 810 KLVZ.  She is also busy creating and planning the 5K Race To Stop Bullying in her community to coincide with National Bullying Awareness Month in October 2013.  

Being a spokesperson for BYOU “Be Your Own You” Magazine (www.BYOUmagazine.com) has also opened the door for Ashley to reach out to girls across the country so that she can encourage them to be proud of who they are and to just B-YOU!

For more information on Ashley, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/AshleyMichelleBerry
https://www.facebook.com/RaceToStopBullying

Ashley is also available for media interviews & speaking engagements upon request