Key Takeaways from Culture Shock™ 2026:

Moderated by Jeannie Mai, the panel featured Logan Browning, Monique Coleman, and BooBoo Stewart, who shared personal stories about identity, belonging, and finding their voice. What made this conversation impactful was not just the stories, but the real, practical guidance students can use every day.

"The thing I've learned is that bullying only survives when there's an audience. Bullying only really, you know, actually lives when there's reaction. And so we also have the power to dismantle that and break that down. So I want to ask you here, what do you guys feel that we can do to change this culture of bullying? How can young people create meaningful change individually in their classroom, in their school, in their groups, on the group chats? What do we do to actually break that down?" ~ Jeannie Mai, Culture Shock 2026 Moderator

Bullying Needs an Audience to Survive

Bullying often continues because of the reaction it receives. When people watch, laugh, record, or stay silent, it gives the moment more power.

Monique Coleman called attention to how quickly people reach for their phones instead of helping someone in the moment.

"Unfortunately I feel like bullying, violence, and these sorts of things sometimes become entertainment. And so I think that we have to divest from this idea that we're capturing something like it's content. At least that's my perspective. There's this sort of impulse to capture and share before we intervene and support. And so I think one thing is to really separate how we view entertainment and how we view our humanity and create more empathy and compassion and less detachment. The first thing that people often do is pull out their phones instead of reaching out their hand." ~ Monique Coleman, Culture Shock 2026 Panelist

Choosing not to engage, or choosing to support someone instead, can change what happens next.

You Are More Than Labels

Many students feel pressure to fit into a box or define themselves based on how others see them.
As BooBoo Stewart shared, growing up with a mixed cultural background often left him questioning where he belonged.

"I'm a mixed human being. You know, my mom is Chinese, Japanese, Korean. My dad is Blackfoot and Chakawa and Italian and Scottish and like all these different cultures. So growing up I was always very confused at, you know, what team I belong to and then when jokes were made and things like that, I was like, well, I guess this part of me could laugh at it but this part of me is like kind of offended by it. So, it was like this weird thing growing up. You know, when you're checking off a box of like what ethnicity you are, I was just told like just check the other one, like, the other box." ~ BooBoo Stewart, Culture Shock 2026 Panelist

You do not have to choose a box to belong. Your identity is shaped by your experiences, your values, and who you are, not by what others expect you to be.

Use Your Voice, Even When It’s Hard

Standing up to bullying does not have to be loud or confrontational. It can be simple and honest.
Logan Browning shared how saying, “That hurt my feelings,” can be enough to set a boundary.

"If you don't tell someone, they'll never know. So there is a responsibility we have to ourselves to say, "Hey, you just hurt my feelings. What you said, I don't like that. I don't find it funny." We have to stick up for ourselves. And I think that's something that I've learned as someone who had to stick up a lot for my younger brother and myself that, you know, you don't want to have to do it, but it's something that we need to do, it's about respecting yourself. respecting yourself, respecting your culture, respecting your family, you know, you are not a joke." ~ Logan Browning, Culture Shock 2026 Panelist

You do not need the perfect words. You just need to be real and respect yourself.

Watch the full Culture Shock™ 2026 livestream

See People for Who They Are: Watch #SeeMe

Everyone has a story.

A message that carried throughout the event was simple and powerful. See people for who they are. The #SeeMe campaign encourages students to look beyond labels, assumptions, and appearances.

When you choose to listen, include, and support others, you help create a space where people feel seen and respected.

Moving Forward

Being yourself is what helps you find your people.

Find What Fills You Up

Confidence grows when you invest in what brings you joy.

Whether it is art, music, sports, or creative expression, spending time on what fulfills you helps build a stronger sense of self.

When you feel grounded in what you love, negativity has less power. You begin to find people who share your interests and support who you are.

Keep Going

Finding your voice and building confidence takes time.

Some moments will feel easier than others. Progress does not always look the same.

What matters is that you keep going.

If something feels hard, take a step. If you need support, ask for it. Growth does not happen all at once, but it does happen.

Stand Up

Knowing how to stand up to bullying starts with small, everyday choices.

Your voice matters.
Your identity matters.
Your actions matter.

When you lead with empathy, curiosity, and confidence, you help create a culture where people feel safe to be themselves.

That is how change begins.

Every day, students are facing bullying, harassment, and online harm;
often without support. Help us reach them before it escalates.