A local seventh grader at Gregory-Portland Junior High School is taking a stand against bullying.
Michael Collins said he was previously picked on at school because of his disabilities, but on Wednesday he spoke about bullying, an epidemic plaguing campuses across the country.
To combat that epidemic, Collins started an anti-bullying effort of his very own called Operation Friendship. "Bullying is bad," Collins said. "Bullying is not a joke."
Back in March when 3News first reported his efforts, Collins had not received the green light from the school to create his Operation Friendship support group.
"I think it gives a good voice for students to be able to meet together to express their ideas together and do something positive," Principle Gabe Alvarado said. "I think it gives them a sense of belonging."
On Wednesday school district administration gave Collins permission to speak to his school through the intercom about his experience.
Collins said he wants classmates walking away from his talk to, "get power that I give them and spread it with light, because to me, bullies give darkness."
Collins is autistic and has been the target of bullies for a while now. He made the decision to turn the torment into something positive by helping others.
His mother said he just wants to be friends with everyone. "Even when he was in the hospital for a surgery, he was drawing pictures for his bully," Rachel Collins said.
Since starting Operation Friendship, thousands have reached out to him via social media to tell their stories; and creating a safe place for students is not the only thing Collins hopes to accomplish.
"Also I want to help bullies become better people," Collins said.