By guest writer Brittany Costantini
Maxie’s Story
Maxie Noznesky was diagnosed with ADHD in second grade and has gone to five schools. But that has been the least of his struggles. At his first school, he struggled with getting along with other kids. But when he changed schools in sixth grade, the bullying really started.
Maxie was not only the victim of bullying at this new school, but a bully himself. He wanted to be popular, so he made comments about a girl at the school. Rumors then started to be spread about him. The bullying escalated quickly. He thought it was normal for this to happen, so he started bullying other kids to the point of almost getting expelled.
Unfortunately, just when it seemed like it was coming to an end, every new school year the cycle would start all over again. Maxie started hanging out with the wrong people who took advantage of him. At the end of last year, he was tricked into getting into a fight on Facebook. He claimed, “One thing led to another, and I was being tricked into fighting back—just being pounded with insults.”
He says that his experience of being on both sides of the bullying issue has taught him to pay more attention to what he says and realize who his true friends are. He also sought out his faith more because of these challenges and continues to pursue this path as a leader within his youth group. Maxie continues to look for ways to help others who are experiencing what he went through.
For reasons of security, names have been changed.
Color Me Orange—Color Me Kind
Coloring with Kindness
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
September 21 to October 9, 2016
Vote 62626
(Located outside on the museum plaza)
Tell Us Your Story. #ColorMeKind
