Jacksonville native shares powerful anti-bullying message ahead of back-to-school season

Jacksonville native Lee Kaplan opens up about his own experience getting bullied as a child and how he hopes children speak up against the cause

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As students prepare to head back to school, bullying remains a concern for many families.

One Jacksonville native is opening up about his own experience, hoping his story will encourage children to speak up and remind others that kindness can change a life.

Lee Kaplan says he was bullied as a child, and the emotional impact stayed with him long after he left the classroom.

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Years later, while cleaning out his parents’ home, he found a journal he kept as a young boy. Reading through its pages brought back painful memories he thought were long behind him.

Rather than keeping those experiences to himself, Kaplan turned them into a one-man play called Bully.

He now performs the production for students across the United States and Europe, using his story to start conversations about bullying, self-esteem, and mental health.

Kaplan says bullying doesn’t always end when the school day is over. He believes the words and actions of others can have lasting effects on a person’s confidence and self-worth, which is why he encourages students to speak up if they are being bullied and to support classmates who may be struggling.

With another school year just around the corner, Kaplan hopes students remember they are never alone. He also encourages parents to keep the lines of communication open and check in with their children throughout the school year.