The anti-bullying campaign the three student congresses from the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park cumulated Thursday night when about 100 students braved the wind and cold to attend a candlelight vigil held in Kellogg Park to honor victims of bullying.

Students from Plymouth, Canton and Salem High Schools were in attendance as well as some from Livonia Stevenson and Churchill High Schools.

“We were trying to figure out some way we could break down the barriers at our school and just help students understand the severity of bullying and just what happens to kids and how it affects them,” Melanie Gingell, chair of the student congress committee that organized the campaign said. “I was bullied pretty viciously for about four years when I was younger. So I’ve seen the effects and felt the effects first hand, that’s kind of how I came up with the idea.”

During the candlelight vigil, students stood in a large circle with their candles. Emotions ran high as some students talked through their tears while sharing their own experiences with bullying.

Afterwards, the wind was not cooperative as students tried to light their candles and keep them lit. Finally, Gingell told everyone to stop trying because “the fire is in our hearts.”

Students then bowed their heads in a moment of silence to honor all victims of bullying.

The anti-bullying campaign began this week beginning with student assemblies mandatory for 9th-and 10th-graders in The Park. Upperclassmen were allowed to attend with teacher consent.

During the assemblies, student congress members presented survey results from 3,951 Park students from all three high schools. According to the survey given by student congress, 43 percent of students are bullied at The Park.

“I had no clue how many people were bullied,” Dorienne Sherrod, a Plymouth High School 11th-grader said. “I’ve seen people in the hallways picked on, but I didn’t know it was that bad. It is kind of scary because I go to class with them every day. Bullying can be very serious.”

All three student congresses joined together to put on this campaign. The committee features two students from each of the three student congresses within The Park.

“I think it’s been impacting students in a great way,” Kathy Rokakis, Plymouth High School student congress advisor said. “Just what I notice in my classes, is first of all, is that encouraging kids to talk and I think realize that they are not alone. Kids that are bullied feel like they’re totally alone and we’re showing them that they are not, there are people who care and that there are places to go for resources. And I think kids that might think about saying things, are thinking twice.”

About 16 students from Livonia Churchill High School came out to show their support for fellow student organizers.

“We heard about the candlelight vigil from MASC/MAHS States, it’s where a bunch of student councils and honor societies get together and exchange ideas,” Megan McDonald, president of Livonia Churchill student council said. “They told us about this that they were doing and so we stepped up and said we wanted to come support them. It’s a great cause and we just like to support everyone and show them that we care about what they do. If we had an event, we’d like they’re support, so it’s like one big community.”

Brett Jia, a Plymouth High School 11th-grader and member of the student congress, attended the vigil wearing a purple shirt that said “Hero.” The shirts were available to all members of student congress, while the teachers had shirts with a Confucius quote.

“As a Chinese American, I’ve experienced bullying and its side effects,” Jia said. “I came to support the event, support the congress and support the cause.”

Canton resident Anne Cloutier attended the candlelight vigil to support her son, Sam, a Salem High School student.

“I think it’s great what they are doing. It’s unfortunate in society today that there is so much bullying going on in school rooms, in classrooms and in friendships. So I think it’s good that the kids are trying to do something about it and trying to educate other people. And I’m here to support my son, he’s a part of this campaign.”

The end of this week will not be the end of the student congresses’ campaign. They plan to speak with Canton District State Rep. Dian Slavens to draft some sort of anti-bullying bill. Michigan is one of four states who do not have such legislation.

“I’m not sure how far we are going to go with it,” Gingell said. “We are hoping to brainstorm what we want in place and what we see needs to done. We are not so much trying to write the bill ourselves, but to push for one as a school.”