Justin Frazier
Sault Area Middle School
Sault. Ste. Marie, Michigan

Justin Frazier is a 11-year-old student at Sault Area Middle School in Sault. Ste. Marie, Michigan. He participated in the MindOH! Foundation's 2002 Character's Cool Contest, and won an Experience Music Project prize pack.

The Character's Cool Contest was a national contest for middle school students to help stop school violence and to encourage the practice of ethical behavior. Participants completed an online survey about their experiences in the aftermath of Sept 11th, bullying and school violence, and the ethical behavior and character qualities needed to reduce school violence.

When asked about the first emotion he felt upon learning about the September 11th attacks, Justin felt scared that some body in his family, and other people in other families, might get hurt. Justin's parents and school both talked to him about the events.

Justin thinks it's possible for one country to bully another country, and he's also seen someone being bullied in his school. But, according to Justin, Sault Area Middle School takes measures to prevent bullying and violence.

"My school makes good rules," Justin wrote. "Teachers watch people, they give punishments, and try to stop violence by teaching students what good character is."

Justin thinks it's important for young people to learn how to manage their anger and resolve conflicts peacefully, and he thinks that it's important to be respectful of others, even when you disagree. He thinks there are character qualities people need to have to reduce violence: Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Courage, Cooperation, Tolerance, Love, Patience, and Self Control.

Sault Area Middle School teaches Justin about these character qualities. "They have classes that teach us what a bad character is and a good character. They can tell us how to be a good character and a bad character. They let us choose what kind of character we want to be."