Interview with Brigitte Berman, Teen Author of Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies

As children enter the back to school season, 15 year old author and activist Brigitte Berman is giving school bullying the national attention it deserves. Not only is Brigitte scheduled to testify before a local committee in Massachusetts for more legislation on bullying--her book "Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies" is such a helpful tool for parents, teachers, teens and children as the 2009 school session gets underway.

Brigitte has a busy schedule as a teenager with a social life--but somehow she makes herself available to speak at schools, book signings and news and talk program audiences. Now she has come to Associated Content to talk about her life, bullying and her book in order to help others whose lives are impacted by school bullies.

Brigitte feels very blessed when she knows her efforts are making a difference in the lives of others. Feel free to stop by her Brigitte Berman Facebook Fan page and her website at doriewitt.com to leave her some appreciation or to get details on purchasing her book.

1. Brigitte, what grade will you be entering this school year and what grade were you in when you wrote the book "Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies"?

I will be entering the tenth grade this year and I began working on Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies in the eighth grade.

2. Is there any advice you would change or add to the book--now that you are a little older?

No, I'm happy with the book.

3. Do you feel it is more important to be accepted by your peers (and all of the cliques in school) or to stand up as your own individual even if it means you may be rejected and shunned?

In my opinion, it is important to be yourself and real friends accept you for who you are. FYI: It doesn't matter if we have one friend or fifty. One good friend is better than fifty indifferent friends.

4. How do you deal with rejection today?

Rejection is just as painful as when I was younger but at this point, I have more confidence in myself so I am able to move on faster.

5. Has writing the book made you more or less of a target for bullies at school? Please elaborate.

At school, people are becoming more aware and supportive of ending bullying. So the answer would be less of a target.

6. How has writing the book changed your life? What is better? What is worse?

Life is the same but I have had to organize my time better to handle interviews about my book.

7. With your travel schedule promoting the book and fighting for more legislation on bullying-how do you find time to be a teenager? What do you do when you're not a student, an author and an activist?

My family is down to earth and we live a very normal life. My mom makes sure I have time to be an average teenager. During my free time, once I finish my chores, I like to enjoy the summer sun, read and hang out with my friends.

8. What kind of support is available for your readers?

Dorie Witt offers advice throughout the novel about how to deal with the myriad of problems that present themselves. Furthermore, at the back of Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies, there is a "Bully Fact Sheet" that is helpful to both adults and children.

9. Do you get many requests for advice from kids your age? Are you able to personally respond?

Yes, I receive many questions at book signings and schools and I love to personally respond. For people who are not able to attend my events, I keep in touch with people through my Brigitte Berman Facebook Fan page and my website, doriewitt.com.

10. As a result of writing the book and your speaking engagements--have you made any alliances that will help you in your fight against bullying?

I've met many people who are enthusiastic about the cause. I have come to find out that there are so many different organizations that want to make a difference in children's lives.

11. What other causes concern you in our society?

I always support causes for the children and elderly because many times they are neglected groups in our society. Frequently, my mother and I have brought our therapy dog, Ginger, to visit nursing homes.

12. If there is anything you could change about the school experience, what would it be?

Besides sleeping in later and ending bullying, I think the homework load has impacted family time and sleep time. Maybe, if people had more sleep they would be calmer and patient with others in school.

13. What do you have planned this year on the bullying education front?

Speaking at schools and anything else that comes my way!

14. Are there any stories of bullying that you have heard from others that touched you? What where they?

Last June, I spoke at a school in Minnesota where the teacher had been using my book to teach about bullying. After I had finished speaking, some of the little girls came up and gave me big hugs and explained that they had quit gossiping and teasing each other after they read my book. Furthermore, their once feuding friendship had been mended. I was truly touched; I knew how they felt because I have been in their shoes too and at that time, I never wanted anyone to go through the experience of being bullied. The fact that I'm able to change people's lives for the better makes me feel truly blessed.

15. Tell us a little about your own experiences with bullies. Is Dorie Witt's story based on some of your own real life experiences?

As a girl who is five feet eleven inches and somewhat of a science geek, I know what it feels like to be excluded and gossiped about but Dorie Witt's story is purely fiction based on stories from my questionnaire and survey and from kids across America. What person hasn't experienced or seen bullying? Unfortunately, it's a part of our world but that is something we can change.

16. What advice would you give teachers to help end bullying in the classroom?

My grandma was a teacher for 40 years and my mother was a teacher for a short time and they say it is important to be aware of what's going on in the classroom, which most teachers are, and when you see a dangerous or hurtful situation, step in and say stop. In my opinion, our teachers are trying their best, but the administrations need to start giving them more tools and make teaching tolerance and acceptance a part of the curriculum. This needs to be presented in a manner kids relate to. Teachers who use my book in the classroom have commented that it works well because children are able to relate to Dorie Witt, after all she is written by some their own age, and the book has a built in lesson plan so it is easy to use in class.

17. What advice would you give parents?

As I explain in the Bullying Fact Sheet, listen to your children and remember bullying isn't something that can just be ignored!

18. What advice would you give bullies?

Remember back in kindergarten when you learned how to play nice on the playground? Treat others as you would like to be treated!!! It has been said for centuries and still applies today! You don't have to like everybody, but you do need to be respectful and tolerant of them.

19. Who should purchase your book "Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies" and why?

High school and middle school teenagers have found Dorie Witt funny and engaging and her advice very helpful. Grade school students have enjoyed Dorie Witt and I have found that many parents have laughed with their young children as they read it together. Adults have told me they have learned a lot about bullying and their child.

20. Any last words of encouragement to share with someone who is currently targeted by bullies at school?

Remember, you are never alone and other people are going through the same experience you are! Also, no one has the right to make you feel bad about yourself and if they do, they HAVE to stop! Furthermore, never be afraid to get an adult involved, sometimes just talking about a problem can make it better.