Jake, now a junior in high school, did the bravest thing imaginable: he stood up, literally and figuratively, to the kids who bullied him at school. Jake has autism, and his story is included in an important documentary entitled "The BULLY Project." According to ABC News, 160,000 kids stay home from school because of bullying. Bullying victims are about five times more likely to consider suicide, as they feel it’s the only way out.
In 2014, Jake decided to take a stand. "I want you guys to see me for me, and just really try to be my friend," he says to his peers. "Cause I really want to try and be your friend, but you don't try to be mine." It's no wonder this video went viral with nearly one million views on YouTube.
Since filming this video, Jake was inundated with positivity and encouragement, and his life took a turn for the better, both at home and at school. Here’s an update from Jake himself: "Bullying has had a big impact on my life, but since the movie I’ve made a lot of friends. Recently, I have joined my high school football team! At first I thought they would all be complete jerks, but actually they are pretty cool guys and have helped me through a lot of situations — they stand up for me!"
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