Emily Anne Rigal

What would you do if your whole world collapsed from right underneath you? Before you knew it, everything was gone and you didn't know what to do? Then, during all of this, you have to go to school and be hated or feel like you're not wanted anywhere, not by your family or friends or even the world that's a horrible world to live in. This is where heroes come in.

My heroes are people that do their best to help others, no matter what happens to them. When they see something that they don't like, they're the change they want to see. That's why I chose Emily, who won the Halo Awards. A teen named Emily-Anne Rigal is a nonprofit founder and director of WeStopHate.org which is a program that raises "teen esteem"(self-esteem in teens). Emily was teased about her weight through school and wanted to make a change by not wanting other kids to feel like there's no way out.

During an interview, Emily was asked, "Who or what inspired you to start WeStopHate?" Emily said, "In elementary school, I was teased for being overweight. Each morning, I crossed my fingers in hopes that it would not be a day when my teacher would let my class pick our own partners because I rarely had someone to pair up with. It was mortifying, leading me to eventually switch schools. Throughout middle and high school, my self-confidence gradually increased. The more I accepted myself, the happier I became. At seventeen, I now know the benefits of embracing who I am, but memories are made to last - even the painful ones have a purpose. So my heart goes out to young people struggling with self-acceptance. I believe it is my life's work to help others turn self-hatred into self-love. To do this, I founded WeStopHate.org, which is now a grassroots movement changing the way teens view themselves. WeStopHate focuses on teen-esteem as a way to combat bullying because we believe teens who are happy with themselves won't put others down. I spearheaded WeStopHate by creating videos telling my personal stories. By exposing my inner thoughts and feelings, I put myself out there subject to ridicule. However, instead of criticizing me, teens respected my authenticity and responded to my honesty. It was as if there was a piece of me in each viewer. Having been the first to put myself out there, I led by example, and now many other teens have followed in my footsteps." I feel like everyone can relate to this.

There are many great heroes in the world such as doctors and others. I think heroes are important to help teens turn into wonderful adults. I wish to be like Emily and to start something that will make other lives easier to live. I feel no one should have to live an unhappy life in school. No one has the right to bully anyone. All people are people.