Its the start of the school year. Everyone wants to fit in. Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, young people are connected But these are the words Ralston superintended Dr. Mark Adler wants his students to hear. #bekind!
In a time, where words have meaning and actions impact life. a simple phrase that Dr. Adler says would have gone miles with his own son Reid.
Reid Adler had hands skilled at football, artwork and for reaching out to others. but the Adlers didn't know they were up against a stealthy opponent, a cyber bully who wouldn't let go.
A Pew Research center study shows almost all teens have access to a phone or computer keeping them connected around the clock.
Where the wrong word or the wrong picture can have devastating effects
"I said to him please trust us no matter what it is," Dr. Adler said.
"We will help you and we will get through it- and he said to me pops. I trust you and this would be my only regret but then he said, you know but some of these things are embarrassing."
One embarrassing mistake one secret and two parents who did everything they could but still, it wasn't enough. "What we found was that this girl kept over time just manipulating him and on January 6th," they said.
"She did post the picture of Reid and that was the night he took is own life - we found him the morning of January 7th."
Dr. Adler said that sometimes he gets into a selfish mode of "why, why me, why us" because they are engaged parents.
"I think what really scares people is if this can happen to a family that is engaged, it could happen to anybody. And in the middle of the despair and grief of losing a son," he said. "Came the simple insight a little kindness here would have gone a long way."
A message the Alders and now Reid's former teammates are working to spread. A way to turn so much heartache into healing.
