STICKS AND STONES WILL BREAK MY BONES BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT ME.
Excuse me, WHAT? Who Made Sh*t That Up??
We've all heard the saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Let's be real, that the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Personally, I'd rather have the sticks and stones thrown at me than endure the lasting pain of nasty words.
Sometimes, the reason someone slings a hurtful word your way is because you're different than them. Maybe they think being different is a bad thing—but we think it’s everything. It makes you ONE OF A KIND. Embracing what makes you unique is your superpower, and no mean word can take that away from you.
Mean Girls and Their Legacy
Words have an incredible power. They can uplift, inspire, and heal, but they can also wound deeply.
…And the scars from those words often linger far longer than any bruise or scrape from a physical blow. Mean girls know this. They’ve been around for generations, thriving on their ability to tear others down with nothing but a look, a whisper, or a snide remark.
In today’s world, words don’t just stay in the halls of our schools or between whispered conversations. They’ve found a new home online. Social media is a platform where we can either continue the cycle of negativity or choose to be a force for good. Every comment, caption, like, or laugh emoji and post is an opportunity to build someone up—or tear them down. And just like words spoken aloud, the ones we type can linger far longer than we ever intended.
I'VE GOT A GROUP OF GIRLS WHO WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE TO BUILD YOU UP!!!
No matter what we do, we can’t change the mean girl mindset. They’re in every school, in every town, and, unfortunately, they always will be. But what we can do is choose how we respond. We can decide who we allow into our circle and who gets to have an impact on our self-worth.
Finding Your People
The truth is, we need to find our people—the ones who build us up, who remind us that those cruel words don’t define us. Because the words we choose to believe, and the people we choose to surround ourselves with, can change everything.
Let Your Words Write a Better Story
In the end, it’s not about silencing the mean girls—it’s about not letting them have the last word in our story. Surround yourself with kindness, and let your confidence speak louder than their cruelty.
My Teen Team wanted this photoshoot to be more than just pretty pictures. We wanted to remind you of the power of your words. The conversation hearts are a reminder of the words the world needs to hear more of. Words matter. They have the power to hurt or to heal, to break down or to build up. Let's choose our words wisely girls.
BE BRAVE!! Be the one that empowers someone to feel confident, valued, and loved simply with the words you speak.
CAPTURE LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY by Davinda is proud of the 2025 Teen Team that make up and represent the following high schools: Southeast, Rootstown, BioMed, Crestwood, Garfield, Field, Waterloo, Maplewood Career Center, Theodore Roosevelt, Stow Munroe Falls and Woodridge.
Advocating for kindness one word at a time.
Beautiful thoughts and pictures. Words to live by.