The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Student honored for doing ‘right thing’
By the age of 12, Dyamond Henderson earned a “notorious” reputation for filming and photographing fights among students.
But on May 22, Dyamond, a sixth-grade student at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, 2700 Washington Ave. in Lorain, was honored at a Lorain City School Board meeting at Lorain High School for doing the right thing.
Dyamond stepped between two boys May 12 and stopped them from fighting in a classroom at school.
She was honored by Lorain City Schools and the Lorain Police Department for her courage and positive example in a “Do the Right Thing” program.
“Dyamond made the split decision to be an upstander,” wrote teacher Jennifer Lynn on a nomination form. “What’s worthy of a ‘Do the Right Thing’ recognition is that Dyamond previously was notorious for filming and sharing footage
of fights.
“However, after completing a research project and learning about the negative effects said recordings have on the victims, she has obviously become a role model
for her peers. She not only learned that filming fights is wrong, she stepped up to reject the violence all together.”
Principal Bryan Hilko appreciated the project that
changed Dyamond’s perspective.
“Eight months ago, she came to us very shy, very unsure,” Hilko said. “And it’s good to see her growth, not only in the classroom, but in the halls and as part of our dance team as well.
“Mom, a huge thanks to you as well. Mom, as Dr. (Lorain Schools superintendent Jeff) Graham has said in the past, that good students aren’t made by accident. It’s because of you that she is who she is today. So, thank you as well.”
Graham asked Dyamond what she uncovered during her research that turned around her thoughts about fighting.
“I felt so bad for recording fights and photographing them, that I decided to change my ways and start doing the right thing,” she said. “I decided to stop the fights.”
Dyamond said two boys were fighting, and one of them was her best friend.
“I didn’t want him to get hurt or get in trouble,” she said. “The other one was throwing chairs. He’s my friend, too. I didn’t want him to get into trouble, either.
“So, I stopped them from fighting. I pushed them away and stood in the middle and stopped them from fighting. I felt sad because I didn’t want any of them to get in trouble. And they were both my friends.”
Lynn indicated in the nomination that both boys were larger than Dyamond.
The research inspired her, she said.
“I wanted to be the bigger person to stop them from fighting,” Dyamond said. “I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble, and God was watching us.”
Her mother, Desmarie Henderson, and brother, Dontaye Blakely, 9, also attended the meeting where Dyamond was given a plaque and a packet of items connected with the “Do the Right Thing” award.
Dyamond stepped between two boys May 12 and stopped them from fighting in a classroom at school.