By Nicole D. Hayes, Women of L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1ST, Director

Summer is nearly upon us. School is out for most K-12 students. Some students will be working summer jobs to earn extra cash for new clothes or car. Some will participate in internships or play sports or simply kick back until school resumes. Perhaps they’ll take a road trip or two with family and friends.

Whatever the scenario, summer for most K-12 students seems a time to take a break from the school books and everything about school, homework. Summer is also a time when new families, students enter the neighborhood with fresh hopes about the possibilities the new school year, new life, new friends will bring. Then as the new kid enters the classroom those hopes are quickly and perhaps permanently dashed—all because of a bully. The bully doesn’t like the way the new kid looks, doesn’t like his brand of clothes or doesn’t like his intelligence or confidence.

What happened here?

For the bully, he/she took the summer break and resumed old, unproductive behaviors once the new school year began. What was the bully’s family doing during this time? Were they hosting bbqs, taking trips to the beach hoping the issues with their child would go away?

The summer seems a prime opportunity for parents, other family members, civic and community leaders, coaches and to address a child’s negative behaviors so they are not repeated. If left unaddressed, the bully takes this behavior to their future workplace to their or others’ demise.  We know the harsh consequences of such behaviors left unaddressed. The International Bullying Prevention Association (IBPA) encourages “best practices in order to achieve a safe school climate, healthy work environment, good citizenship and civic responsibility.”

This is what we are striving to achieve with each child. Children and adults who practice Loyalty, Education, Accountability, Discipline, Empower, Respect, Service, Honesty, Integrity and Perseverance throughout their lives offers us a community where we can put our feet up in the summer. However, we are not at that place.

What are your summer plans?

Nicole D. Hayes desires that girls understand their worth and know their identity. Nicole is the Women of L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1ST Director whereby she communicates the activities, goals, messages, mission and vision of this women’s leadership division. Women of L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1ST was inspired based on Nicole’s passion to empower and restore women through a global platform in partnership with the talents of other women who share the same passion, varying talents and embody the L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1ST core leadership traits. In addition to this role, alongside her brother, Nicole is also the co-founder of Pieces of Life, LLC a media relations consultancy based in Washington, D.C. Operating with a company and personal mantra of “making an investment in people,” she serves nonprofit organizations and small businesses desiring media visibility, but lack in-house expertise or budget to hire a full-service agency. She also has a background in broadcast journalism and uses that outlet to address issues for homeless persons and other disenfranchised women, individuals.