LIZZIE SIDER HEADS OUT ON ANTI-BULLYING TOUR (QUEEN LATIFAH)

LIZZIE SIDER HEADS OUT ON ANTI-BULLYING TOUR

Published on: October 8, 2013 | Article by: Stephanie M. Spear

If we didn’t know any better, we would think the poised and intelligent voice of Lizzie Sider belonged to a confident adult. It wasn’t until we started chatting about her 80-school Anti Bully California Assembly Tour that we realized that this high schooler is still dealing with the pain that often accompanies teenage years. While this bright and upbeat15-year-old has made a huge splash over the past year — the video for her single “Butterfly” has over 1 million views on YouTube and her newest single “I Love You That Much” is climbing the charts quickly, she has overcome difficulties and is using her opportunity to promote positivity.

While we talked to her, she was driving across the “beautiful but totally desolate” state of Nevada towards northern California to kick off a tour of elementary and middle schools. During the 30-40 minute assembly, she will talk about her experience with bullying and perform a few songs. When we asked her to tell us about the motivation behind the tour, she explained that her hope is to show those who bully others that the impact of bullying is larger that just that moment and to help those who are victims of bullying find support and also realize “nobody has the power to ruin your day.”

That phrase isn’t just a tagline—it’s something Lizzie’s father told her that left a big impact. When Lizzie was in elementary school, she explained that kids at school would tease her. We asked her why they would tease a beautiful, talented girl like herself. Her response, “I don’t think I’ll ever know.” “When I was on the playground singing, they would come up and ask me to sing for them,” recalls Lizzie. “When I would start, they’d run away and start laughing. I would come home crying almost every day. I begged my parents to home school me.”

The situation didn’t improve when she began being recognized for her talent. After she sang the national anthem at a major league baseball game, her school administrators asked if they could play the video for the school. Even though she was proud of this great accomplishment, she feared what the other kids would think. Retrospectively, she feels as though the struggles she went through have helped her become a stronger person and given her this opportunity to help others through this tour and her song, “Butterfly.”

Now that Lizzie has been named “Who to Watch in 2013” by the Country Music Association, I asked her if she’s nervous or excited about the future. “I’m just really excited,” she explained. Wise beyond her years, she explained that she doesn’t know where things will go from here and how big it will grow, but she’s enjoying all of it.