Cyndi Loza

Mendive Middle School students were asked a poignant question Thursday.

“How many of you have ever been kicked, shoved, punched or bullied by someone else?” asked filmmaker Erahm Christopher.

One by one, more than 1,000 students and teachers stood up.

The Sparks students reflected on violence and the consequences of bullying through a video presentation by Christopher, an award-winning Montreal filmmaker. The presentation focused on bringing awareness to the various ways of bullying, which include exclusion, spreading rumors and physical violence.

“I think (awareness) is so important because this monster of bullying is changing so rapidly,” Christopher said. “People don’t even realize when they’re being bullied.”

Christopher presented a documentary, “Teen Truth — An Inside Look at Bullying and School Violence,” and used interactive discussions to teach students to identify the different forms of bullying, understand how bullying can lead to violence and motivate students to stop bullying from happening in their school.

KaPreace Young, 11, a seventh-grader at Mendive, said the presentation made her reflect on the derogatory names she was called in school and how she bullied others.

“It made me think I shouldn’t be such a bully,” Young said. “I don’t want to be the reason someone brings a gun to school.”

It’s easy to be a bully in middle school, Young said.

“Here at school, it’s … one of the best places to bully,” Young said. “You can bully someone, and they won’t tell anybody.

Teen Truth will end it’s four-day run in Reno today with its final presentation at Cold Springs Middle School.

For tour dates and video clips of “Teen Truth: Bullying” visit www.teentruthlive.com.