During a basketball game at Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a cheerleader with Downs Syndrome was being picked on by some students in the crowd. Noticing this atrocious behavior, three basketball players walked off the court and addressed the issue head on. They told the students to knock it off and would not continue the game until the bullying ceased.
One of those basketball players, Chase Vasquez said, “The kids in the audience were picking on D, so we all stepped forward.” Another one of those boys, Scooter Terrien said, “It’s not fair when other people get treated wrong, because we’re all the same. We’re all created the same. God made us the same way.”
Joe’s Perspective – Small Gestures Lead to Monumental Changes: This small gesture made a huge impact on the life of Desiree Andrews. She feels more secure knowing that someone has her back. Her father had difficulty fighting back the tears when thanking the boys on the team. A special bond has formed between the basketball players and Desiree. Reportedly, school spirit is at an all-time high. The administration has even named the middle school gymnasium, “D’s House.” So very cool.
Your Turn:
- When you hear about this story, what is your reaction?
- What little acts of kindness can you do at your school to create monumental changes?
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I wish there were more people like these boys. To me these small acts of kindness help alleviate the social stigmas that some students face. I work with kids with disabilities, primarily autism, so I understand the importance of peer support in their growth and development. I think it is really cool that the school is supporting D and offering solutions to the problems she was facing earlier in the school year, and that it was other students who initiated these huge changes. I love reading feel good articles like these, they make me believe that the world isnt as cruel as its put out to be.
My reaction to this story was surprising because you don’t get a lot of people who just stand up for a young girl and just stops their game to tell this bully to stop. I was angry too that a person would actually just bully this young girl but that was amazing of what those students did. The little acts of kindness I can do to help my school is pick up any trash I see around school instead of some other people just leaving it their. I can also help out with the donations for Christmas our school is having.
When i first saw this I was surprised that people would go out in public and make fun of a girl with a disability
I really sorry that that happened to her but there are lights in this world, good lights.
I was happy that there are people who will drop what they are doing to defend someone. When D was being bullied the boys stopped playing to go stand by her side. I can pay more attention to others and notice when someone needs help.
This story helps me stand up to bullying and defending people with disabilities.
This story really go’s with standing up for people.
I felt sad that someone could make fun of someone with a mental illness but when the basketball players came to defend her it made me happy. I can help others when they are in need.
Hearing about this story makes my heart very happy and inspires me to stand up for bullying victims. Something I can do similar to this is sitting with someone who is alone at lunch
Reading this story pulls on my heart strings and gives me hope that they’re still good people out there to defend others getting bullied. It was very cool to read about the boys standing up for her and how much it impacted everyone and at my school I can be more aware of others aorund me and defend them when someone is bullying them.
Seeing this article makes me happy! Many people in the world are born with disabilities and can’t do some things like sports and shouldn’t be bullied because she didn’t choose to be that way. People who stand up for what’s right are truly blessings from God.
I think this story is beautiful. It’s always a great feeling reading articles like this.
This story restores my hope in humanity. It gives me hope that there are still good people in our wold that want to do the right thing. A simple smile can brighten anyone’s day and that is what I try to do; smile at everyone I meet and tell them to have a good day.
This story made me happy to see that there are still people that are good. I try to see the good in all people and I try to be kind to all people I meet.
i have a brother with downs and i love this and the kids that where being mean to this girl need to be punished the 3 boys that stepped up gets a big thanks from me its not fair to d
Author
thanks for sharing. Great comment.
This story is a good example of how students should look out for each other. Being nice and helping other people at school can make a big difference.
1.when i heard this i was kinda mad because she cant defend herself so i was glad the basketball players jumped in and help ed her to defend her.
2. to show act of kindness you should complament people
I was happy that there are people who will drop what they are doing to defend someone. When D was being bullied the boys stopped playing to go stand by her side. I can pay more attention to others and notice when someone needs help.
1) When I hear this it gives me hope for humanity.
2) Things I can do to change bullying is to change my approach.
I think it is a good idea of how humans still have a chance at being civilized and taken initiative and fighting back against bullying.
1.) When I hear things like this it makes me wish that every school had certain students like this to help other students.
2.) The little acts we could do at our school is approaching things very differently and a little more nicer.
These kind of things seem to be more and more rare now because everyone is so busy trying to make themselves feel better than others by putting them down. I think just giving someone a nice compliment once in a while, someones mood and life can change greatly. I my self am guilty of not being so nice but I believe that if everyone, including myself, tried to be kinder and more open then we wouldn’t have as many problems and teenagers wouldn’t have the second highest rate for suicide/attempts.
This story really made me very happy. There should be more people like these boys because just being transferred to high school people can be very rude and cruel and they don’t think about what they are saying can affect others. Seeing how these boy helped is such a good thing. My cousin has down syndrome and if someone did this for her I would really appreciate it because they stopped someone from doing something they love and she was having fun with a smile and that’s the most beautiful thing.
1)When i read this, it put a big smile knowing that there are still good people out their standing up for others. We need more people like those three boys in the world.
2)Little acts of kindness we could do is being nicer to other people and try helping each other out. We’re all human and we are all the same.
1) When i heard about this story i was like “wow” because its good to know that there’s still kind people.
2) At my school i can help people that are getting bullied out and help them get along with others so they wont get bullied no more.
Thats crazy how people can bully people with autism and just like those kids stepped up anyone can and just like he said everyone is the same and should be treated that way
These players decided to speak up for D and didn’t seem to have any second thoughts. They knew it was wrong, and so they stood up for their classmate. I think all acts of kindness have the potential to make big changes. One example would be to encourage classmates who want to join a sport or a club, but are apprehensive for whatever reason, to go for it and try something new.
Reading this story pulls on my heart strings and gives me hope that they’re still good people out there to defend others getting bullied. It was very cool to read about the boys standing up for her and how much it impacted everyone and at my school I can be more aware of others aorund me and defend them when someone is bullying them.
I wish there were more people like these boys. To me these small acts of kindness help alleviate the social stigmas that some students face. I work with kids with disabilities, primarily autism, so I understand the importance of peer support in their growth and development. I think it is really cool that the school is supporting D and offering solutions to the problems she was facing earlier in the school year, and that it was other students who initiated these huge changes. I love reading feel good articles like these, they make me believe that the world isnt as cruel as its put out to be.
Those kids did a great thing to stand up for that young girl. She has so much talent just like any other person in that gym! I hope those boys learned their lesson and gave their apologies to the young girl.
This story gives me hope that the world is really becoming a better place. That theses young boys can go out of there way to make someone else’s life better. With just a small thing of telling those bullies to stop picking on Desiree it changed her life forever. You can see how happy she is now knowing she didn’t have to worry about the bullies anymore and knowing that people got her back and that really is a great thing.
A little act of kindness I can do is to also go out of my way to help someone in need and to continue to help them out.
I think it is an amazing thing what these boys did even the fact that there boys is just crazy because most boys are just scared to stand up for females because there scared over what there friends are going to say .
Acts of kindness i will do
Care for people
Be there for them when they need it
Encourage others
Be a good influence
My reaction to the story is I’m just so amazed and impressed with the actions that the 3 boys took to stop the bullying that went on and how much it impacted the girl and everyone else around her.
Some things I can do at my school to make small changes is to not make fun of others just cause of the way they are acting or how they look. I can also help those who are getting picked on who is doing the picking on.
These players decided to speak up for D and they didn’t seem to have any second thoughts. They knew it was wrong, and so they stood up for their classmate. I think all acts of kindness have the potential to make big changes. One example would be to encourage classmates who want to join a sport or a club, but are apprehensive for whatever reason, to go for it and try something new.
When I saw this I thought wow people are going out of thier way to protect someone that was being made fun of. It suprised me that they took the out of this game to address it.
I’m glad that the players had the courage to stand up for D. However I was angry that the bullies were bullying D for being unique and different.
My reaction to this is that the guys that stood up for that girl was a really nice thing to do. Not everyone would do that. A little act that I can do for my school is that if I see someone bullying a kid I would go over there and tell them off and to stop and apologize.
It’s great these young men intervened when they did. How others can demean those with disablities I will never understand. It’s quite enraging that no one has the slightest bit of respect anymore. I would most definitley intervene within my school had I seen something of this nature occur.
My first reaction was shock that it was so close to home. You hear about all of these things happening, but to happen close to me is incredible. Some little acts that I can do to help our school is just to be positive to everyone no matter who they are or what they do.
I was very upset hearing of such an incident still happening in todays world. But also glad that there are good, honest, caring people in this world fighting bullying and putting something good into society. The best thing we can do today is stand up for whats just and whats right because everyone deserves the same love and positions in life in order to grow and succeed at their own level.
I felt upset that there are people that can be cruel to somebody that they don’t know simply because they’re different, but also glad that there are still others who are willing to stand up for what’s right. Something new that I can do is to have a more positive outlook and try not to judge anybody at face value.
My first reaction is anger to the bully who’s started bullying her but when I found out the players stood up for her I felt happiness and gratitude. There should Ben more people with the guts and courage as those players. The acts of kindness I can do to better my school are to stand up for anyone I see being bullied and just always be there for people.
My reaction to how this girl was treated was just disappointment. It’s hard to believe that someone would pick on someone just for their disability. It makes me happy to see how the team stuck up for her and confronted and stopped the bully.
I can help stop and confront those who are bullies at school and try my best to tell them what they are doing is wrong. Hopefully no one would do that, but if their is people I would try my best to get them to realize it’s wrong and that they should apologize.
These boys who stood up for D are really what the other kids should strive to be like. The boys were not afraid to step up to bullying and rightfully defended her in her time of need regardless of the situation they were in.
The kids stood up for D and i thought that it was really nice of them otherwise it would have been a continuous thing that kept happening. They knew it was wrong so they stood up for her. One thing that everyone could do at school is not pick on people for what they look like or what they wear. You could stand up for them and tell the person that’s picking on them to stop.
My reaction to this was at at first sad that this girl got picked on for no reason, but then it was very cool to see young boys come off the court to help this girl out and stand up for her. Acts of kindness I can do around my school is defend those being picked on and show kindness to everyone including people I don’t know.
When I hear about this story it makes me mad that some kids treat someone with down syndrome so poorly, but it makes me happy that other kids where courageous enough to stand up for her. In my school I can stand up for others aswell so that others are encouraged to do the same.
I makes me feel a little angry that somebody would treat somebody different for a stupid reason, everyone was created equal and nobody deserves to be picked on. The things the basketball players did was amazing to see. Anybody can do it, it just depends if your willing to intervene. At are school I could pick up someones pencil if they dropped it or hold a door for them, its the little things that matter in life.
It made me happy to see that there are people who stand up for someone. It’s amazing that people defend one another no matter what they are doing. Everyone should be more like these basket ball players.
I think it is incredible, what those kids did. It was very courageous and genuinely kind. It’s angering, knowing that kids still pick on the people who can’t help or defend themselves. It’s very shameful to do something like that. Congrats for those kids who stepped up and helped. I think one small thing we all can do is just bring awareness to the situation and to not be a bystander. To step up for kids who are being bullied and to help.
My first reaction to the story was that I was upset and then happy, because it makes sad when people get bullied, but it was good to know that those kids stood up you for her. I always try to encourage positivity and show kindness to everyone.
When I first saw this story I was disappointed that there are people self centered enough to shame and make fun of a little girl with a disability. However, as the story progressed, I realized that this situation was beneficial because it brought attention to the problem. That is good because It means that she was not bullied as much, if at all, in the future.
What these three young men had done was a wonderful and very respectful thing to do. This is something I wish was seen with bullying more in today’s day and age. They have left a wonderful mark and changed someones life forever in a great way. If something like this had caught my attention I would most defiantly step in, I don’t care if I’m in the middle of a game, test, or work. If this was happening I would do the right thing and step in.
When I first heard this I was upset about it. How could make fun of someone like that. Those players know what was right and they didnt have a second thought. And that is hard to do and durning a sports game is even harder. But they didnt care, it is so much bigger then a game of basketball.
When I first heard of his random act of kindness I felt good and was proud of the three basketball players. Things like this should happen more around my school. It’s easy as holding a door open for someone or complimenting them once and a while. It feels great knowing that some students are sticking up for others.
When I first herd of this random act of kindness I felt good and was proud of the three basketball players. Things like this should happen more and more around our school. ts as easy as holding a door open for someone or complimenting them once and a while. It feels great knowing that some students are sticking up for others.
My first reaction is disappointment. Its really sad to me that other kids would pick on their classmate with down syndrome. Then I felt happy because those boys stood up for her during their game. Kenosha doesn’t exactly have a good reputation, so it was very surprising to me that this happened there. There are so many different things that you can do that are kind every day at school. It can even be as simple at picking up trash that you see on the ground in the hallway, helping someone if they drop their books, or smiling and saying hi to someone you’ve never met before.
My first reaction was respect towards to basketball players. I could set an example at my school of the right way to treat others to help create changes.
Hearing the story made me upset that people were picking on the girl who has no control over her disability but then it was cool to see that the basketball players stood up for her and did the right thing. In my school I can tell people to soppicking on kids if I see it happening.
1) My first reaction was anger and despise. I don´t understand why people pick on other children that have disabilities and can´t stand up for themselves.
2)Little acts of kindness I can do at my school are picking up trash from the floor when I see it, stand up for the victims of bullying, treat everyone with the same amount of respect.
I was surprised that the kids stood up for the girl in the middle of the game, totally ignoring social conformity, and doing what’s right. At school, you can help someone with a math problem, or pick up their stuff with them, and you are showing an act of kindness that could possibly build a friendship.
my first reaction was being surprised. I would of never thought someone would even do that its not her thought that she has down syndrome so why make fun of her. at least shes trying to life a great life. i also think that its great that the basketball players did something to stop them from making fun of her.
I was very mad you don’t pick on someone who cant help that they look like that and talk like that. If i see bulling stand up for the one who is getting pick on.
my first reaction was disappointment. I was disappointed in the kids bullying her cause she cant help or defend herself. Shes doing more things in life than many other people you don’t need to stomp on her for no reason.
My initial reaction was a mix of disappointment and then kinda happy/glad. It’s disappointing that people even bully others, especially when it’s about them doing what they love. But it is nice that the basketball players stopped in the middle of their game to defend her. Some little acts of kindness could be as simple as holding a door for someone or stopping to let them cross the hall. People really appreciate the small things.
At first I was upset that someone was bullying someone else, especially because it was in the middle of a game and not even a parent in the stands was willing to tell the people bullying her to knock it off. But I was really happy when I heard the boys had stepped up to stop the bully because it probably took a lot of strength to do that in front of a big crowd and know they have changed someones life for the better.
When I saw this it made me really angry and made me want to do something to the kids that were making fun of the girl. If I was in the basketball game I would like to say that I would do the same as these kids did.
My first reaction to this story was disappointment. I was very disappointed that classmates would pick on somebody for a physical disablility that they had no control over. D didn’t choose to have downs syndrome so others shouldn’t choose to pick on her just because she’s different. I felt astonished after hearing what the basketball players did. It takes a lot to walk off the court and address an issue not related to the game. They could have easily kept playing the game and at halftime or the end of the game mention something to their coaches to take care of. They had enough courage to go and stand up for D right away. In high school, there are so many things you could do to create changes. Even the little things such as saying hello to somebody who looks down, offering your help to somebody who is struggling, or just talking to a random person in the hallway. Sometimes the best converstations are with random people I’ve never met.
This story inspires me to be the best I can be for others. It makes me want to go out and help others whenever possible and gives me hope that others will too. Alone at my high school I feel as though the biggest difference we can make is to help everyone feel welcomed. So that people feel confident enough to be themselves and not have to fit the “standards” society has created.
When I first heard the story I felt both disappointment and was proud of the players. It was disappointing that people would pick on someone with a disability and that couldn’t stick up for themselves.
I think there should be more people like them to help out others in need. i don’t understand why they would even do something like that. Its not her fault she had this syndrome. I hope this can help inspire people to help out when someone is in need.
My reaction when I first saw this was angry. Because who is going to bully a special kid, even though I don’t look at them like that I look at them if I were looking at my friend . But when those boys stood up for her and now walks her to her class everyday its nice to see that happened. I think people need to start sticking up for one another more.
This is so amazing! I wish there were more people like them in the world it i was really angered buy this but then i heard those boys stuck up for them and i was like WOW this story is a for real tear dropper. What can i do in school to help kids is tell the teachers and stick for the kid this literally has my eyes watering
When I first heard about this situation, I was mainly disappointed. It’s sad to think that someone would pick on this young girl with great spirit. It’s very powerful to know what these kids did for this girl. They showed great courage, and character by stopping their game, and standing up for this girl. At my school, I can stand up for people I see being bullied. I can also do little thinks like picking up garbage to keep the school clean, or giving help to anyone that may need it.
My reaction was anger and disappointment because no on should make fun of someone who wants to shine. They would feel bad if people did them the same way. I would single them out, let them be in her shoes for a bit, just to see how much she felt when they bullied her.
My initial reaction was anger. This was upsetting to see that kids in the stands were making fun of a girl because of a disability. Everyone is born different and we can not control what we look like. It was very rewarding to see kids stick up for a peer. Even during there basketball game. We need more people like this in our world and I have a lot of respect for those kids that stood up for the little girl.
My first thought was remembering how the JFL program and players are so good to Jack. It think the players are a true demonstration of what it means to be an athlete. I would do the same thing they did in that situation.
When I hear about this story, it makes me very upset and angry that anyone would make fun of Desiree. The fact that those boys stopped their basketball game to defend her was amazing. Not many people including adults would do that. It really showed the maturity those boys had and I wish there were more people like them.
When I first heard this story, I was angry and discussed on how people could treat somebody that horrably very well knowing that that person cant stand up for themselves. But, at the same time I felt a warmth in my heart finding out that there are still people with integrity that wont compromise their choices just because of something that they want to do at the moment. As well as the facet that those boys gave up their game for her telling those people to stop. I can do so many different things that are kind for other people daily. One of those things are smiling, saying ¨Hi.¨ and things like that.
I think it’s awesome that those young men stood up for their friend. It takes courage to be able to go against the crowd, metaphorically and physically. That is a great act of character that those boys have. D’s house will famously be known as a symbol to end bullying in Kenosha, WI.
I would do the same thing the boys did and stand up to her. Not everyone has the same things and we are all different. No one is the exact same person
It was pretty sad in my opinion because I have never understood why or how people can be so low. If something like that happened and I personally heard it I believe that i’d do the same or talk to an authority about it. The small acts of kindness that I could do at school is stick up for people or make sure that they are ok and doing the right thing.
My reaction to this video is that how can someone be this mean to a little girl in front of her family and other people.
My reaction when I first saw this was anger. Because who is going to bully a special kid, even though I don’t look at them like that I look at them if I were looking at my friend . But when those boys stood up for her and now walks her to her class everyday its nice to see that happened.
My initial thought of this story was that I was very disappointed into today´s society and how they bully someone who cant help it. I would help by always defending anyone who needs it.
I was shocked because you normally don’t just get people out the blue standing up for each other. One quick thing I can do to help out others is being nice and saying hello to them.
When I first heard about the story it mad me upset because its not fair that these kids pick on this girl. Once I heard that the players stopped and stood up for her it made me kinda happy because it shows that there are still people in this world that care and take bullying seriously.
It surprised me that people would tease a girl with a disability. I can go out of my way to be kind at my school and effect change.
I would’ve done the same thing it was a moving gesture i dont know i probably woulve been way more aggressive though.
when i first saw the video i saw angry and upset that people were making fun of her. It takes a lot of courage to go out and preform in front of a crowd and especially doing it with a disability. I was happy to hear that the boys stood up for her because middle school is when a lot of kids get bullied and for them to step up and say something to the fans shows that they have courage . If i heard the fans from another team making fun of someone with a disability i would probably go with a group of people to tell them to stop.
People have the guts to bully, it just drives me insane. I’m glad that she has friends that stood up for her.
1)When I heard about this story I just thought that the kids that were making fun of her were straight mean and the fact that the basketball players stopped the entire game to point out that making fun of a young girl just because she’s different is entirely wrong makes me think that maybe the world could get better with these inspiring children.
2)Just be more kind and friendly to other students when they ask you for a favor or anything such as small talk.
When I first heard the beginning part of the story of how people in the stands choose to make fun of a girl who was born with a disability is honestly sickening and cruel. It’s just one of those things you DO NOT do period, show respect and maturity. I’m glad that her fellow friends on the basketball team choose to gladly stop the game to point out the losers who were doing this and call them out for their absurd behavior. Glad some people will help out a fellow person from being bullied, especially in these types of circumstances.
While watching this it made me feel kind of proud of the boys who stood up for D. This kind of character trait isn’t something you see, even in the adult world, and for these boys to stop halfway through what they were doing just to defend her is definitely incredible. This kind of behavior isn’t something often seen, especially in schools. I think that something that can be done to change that fact is to build each other up instead of tearing one another down, an example of this being to just give someone a random compliment in the hall or try to help someone who seems upset.
My reaction to this story is that i am proud , proud of the basket ball players for sticking up for her . Nobody deserves to be bullied
It was really sweet how some people can be. Also how they stopped their own game for her is just amazing. Show your siblings or the lower grades how to respect and show kindness towards others, is really life changing by someone having your back that you never knew would.
when I first heard about this event and what took place I was a little upset but more relived as I heard that the were a few boys who stood up for her in the middle of the game. I think that this story should have never happened. At least we have some people in the world that will stand up for someone that’s different than everyone else.
My reaction to this is I was surprised that somebody would make fun of someone who has a disability like down syndrome. They don’t have control over how they were born or what kind of disabilities they have. I think the boys did a really courageous thing by standing up for the girl. At my school I can do things like stand up for someone who is getting bullied.
When I hear about this story my reaction is happiness because its good to know that people that young are willing to stand up for someone else. Something I can do at my school is stand up for someone who is getting bullied. Hopefully people around me will chime in with me.
My Initial reaction was of most people, utter disappointment. The courage of those young boys was astonishing to me and how they handled the situation defending there friend. They’re are little things like these that we can do like nominating 2 people of special needs as king and queen during one of the dances of this year to see the smile on there faces just light up.
i made me upset to know that some people will make fun someone with downs but it made me happy to know they stop the game to go stand up for D. i could help in my school by stopping people from bulling people in the halls by telling them what they are doing is wrong.
My reaction to this that these boys are great people outstanding characters to stop in the middle of their to stop a person getting bullied.
what i think we can do is start to stand up for people , I do not see much of that happening. we could also become nicer people overall as a community.
It makes me feel angry that they would do that in front of people so many, but no one should be bullied period. We need to have more people in this world like These boys stooped in the middle of something that is important to them to help the girl And it made her feel great that someone stood up for her. These boys did something that most others wouldn’t have.
first, my reaction is why would you pick on someone with disabilities. the things i can do is do whats right and stop people for bullying other people.
My Initial reaction to this was that it was a very very emotional moment have people around you that have a disadvantage with life they no matter what usually have to deal with bullying and depending on who wither they have friends or not could depend on how they think. This story was very emotional and really touching for me. if this was me i would be very happy i have friends that support me. Have somebody by your side could help you a lot because of motivation.
One thing that i think we could do is be more kind and have a type of sweet tooth for people that have Downs Syndrome because for them life is not as easy as us and they need to a lot of support in their life.
It is not nice to be bullied someone ho have downs Syindrom it is a degrees we need to stand up for a self and be confident and be counted as one