Teen starts Instagram page to show student struggles in school
A new Instagram page is sharing anonymous stories from students at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, in northeast Ohio, who say they have experienced racism, bullying, homophobia, sexual harassment or mental health challenges but felt ignored when they reached out for help.
The account, concerned students of smfhs,h as already caught the attention of Principal Jeff Hartmann, who called it “one-sided” and said it “does not portray the support provided by our counselors each and every day” in an Oct. 29 email to high school parents. The district has declined further comment.
But the creator of the account, which now has over 500 followers, says its intent is not to attack the school but to implore it to “do better.”
“My goal is to get LGBTQ+ and mental health involved in (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) because that’s a wonderful, wonderful program, and I want them to get some additional counseling staff, and maybe more mental health resources,” account creator Alexandria Bloom, 15, said. “A lot of what I’m seeing is that the counselors just don’t have the time for all of them. I know how many people go there a day, and I understand that they are overworked. Getting help for them would overall help the students and the counselors.”
Bloom, a high school sophomore, created the account about two weeks ago after learning that there were no apparent repercussions for a classmate who was captured on video calling another student a racial slur while in school.
“Other people in class chimed in telling similar stories, and then we were still talking about it at lunch and people were sharing their stories there too,” Bloom said. “I said this is clearly a recurring issue.”
Recognizing a trend, Bloom pitched it as story idea for the Stohion, the high school newspaper, but knew she also wanted to incorporate social media as well. Her story is scheduled to publish in the November edition.
Bloom, one of the newspaper editors, cleared the idea for the Instagram page with her parents, who offered their full support. She created the page, which stated its intent was to “give students in the high school a place to share their stories that are silenced by administrators,” and asked people to direct-message their experiences.
The next morning, Bloom had over 200 followers and 20 messages from students and alumni, and posted the first anonymous story about bullying and attempted suicide soon after.