MONTREAL – When Stephanie Goldman, 16, was being bullied by a friend, she found it really hard to stay positive.
“Normally, I wouldn’t let the opinions of others get to me, but it did this time around,” she told Global News, adding that she was called “stupid” because her grades hovered around average.
“Why do we let marks define how smart we are? Everyone has strengths and weaknesses…Everyone has something different to offer.”
The Grade 11 student at St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire decided to turn to her passion for film to help both herself and others overcome bullying in schools.
“What I enjoy most about making movies is not only the creative process, but witnessing the emotional impact they have on others,” Goldman told Global News.
“I hope to create an impact on others, making them feel happy, inspired, and motivated. Making the slightest positive impact on someone is truly an amazing feeling.”
She created a film, simply called Normal, for a school project.
Her main focus: to find herself.
“Something that I have taught myself is to not care what others think of me,” she said.
“If people don’t accept me for who I am, that’s OK. I’d rather make genuine friends than superficial ones.”
Goldman pointed out that growing up in a digital age hasn’t made things easier.
“Many people I know care about what people think of them,” she said.
“Sending each other pictures because they do not know if they should make it their profile picture on Facebook, asking for likes, followers, retweets just so they feel like they are more accepted by society.”
Goldman said if she’s learnt one thing through making the film, it’s that bullies are no different to anyone else.
“Bullies are insecure people. They boost their self-esteem by putting others down,” she said.
So, how does Goldman define “normal?”
“In the dictionary, they describe normal as ‘the standard or common kind.’ Who are we to say what is the common kind? Magazines, social media, fashion trends, TV, all have a huge influence on our society,” she told Global News.
“We say that beauty standards are to be skinny, have the Kylie Jenner lips, etc. But who are we to say that those are the ideal traits to be beautiful?”
She insisted the greater message of Normal was to connect with other young adults and tell them that it’s OK to struggle, but eventually they’ll find themselves – something she’s still working on.
“Everyone is unique and has something different to offer to the world. I feel like if we were to conform to the “norm,” we would be holding ourselves back,” she said.
“When people are consumed with their image to fit in, they don’t see the chances they miss – knowing good people, making great memories, going out of your comfort zone, not caring what others think and figuring out who you truly are.”
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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