Sofia Velasquez

Sofia and Jaylah demonstrated extraordinary bravery, compassion, and integrity when they intervened to protect a fellow student in crisis. Recently before their dance class, Sofia and Jaylah encountered a fellow classmate who struggled with emotional challenges due to a turbulent home life and as a result began engaging in self-harming behavior, cutting her arms with razor blades. This particular day the student had brought ten razor blades to school, hiding them in her book bag. Worried that their dance teacher would discover the razor blades, the student asked Sofia and Jaylah to hold them for her. The girls immediately refused, knowing that doing so would not only be wrong but could endanger their classmate further. Sofia and Jaylah, deeply concerned about the student’s emotional state and the potential risks posed by the razor blades, decided to act. They reported the incident to their homeroom teacher, who promptly involved the school administration and police. The student was subsequently taken to the hospital where she received the urgent mental health support she needed. While she was later transferred to an alternative school due to bringing items considered weapons on school grounds, the student is now on the path to recovery, thanks to Sofia and Jaylah’s swift and courageous actions. Their decision to prioritize their classmate’s safety, even when faced with the discomfort of reporting a peer, is a testament to their strength of character, exemplifying what it means to stand up for what is right, even in challenging circumstances.