Teen Literacy and Bullying – Prepare to Be Blown Away

You never know where talent hides. How many shy, reserved students get bullied or shamed into silence by those who don’t understand them? Literate teens are young adults who read enough books to appreciate differences and celebrate them, rather than ridicule them.

I’d like to introduce you to Paul Potts, a mobile phone salesman from South Wales. Paul was bullied as a child, but he found a way through it:

“My voice has always been my best friend, if I was having problems with bullies at school. I always had my voice to fall back on. I don’t really know why people bullied me, I was always a little bit different, so I think that’s the reason sometimes that I struggle with self confidence.”

Paul is now a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent. Prepare to be blown away:

I think Paul’s confidence just got a major boost, don’t you? Here’s to you, Paul, and here’s to putting an end to bullying. We have to help teens become literate, because literacy leads to understanding, and understanding leads to a world where everyone feels comfortable enough to explore and develop their talents. Thank God Paul Potts finally gets to develop his talent.

Don’t let the Paul Potts of the world wait until they’re 40 years old to get enough confidence to pursue their dreams. Let’s work to improve teen literacy and help our teenagers see the world from a broader perspective.