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Parents: Teen Who Killed Himself at School Wrote in His Journal That Bullies Were Tormenting Him
Deana and John Ferraro, parents of Drew Ferraro (CBS Los Angeles)
The parents of the 15-year-old Crescenta Valley High School student who jumped to his to death in the school quad this month are speaking out about the final months of their son.
John and Deana Ferraro told CBS Los Angeles that their son Drew had been tormented by bullies for the last nine months of his life, which neither of them realized until they read through his journal. Some of his bullies were boys but there was a group of girls who targeted him.
"There was name-calling, pushing down the hall, pulling his backpack, punching him in the back," Deana said. She added: "From reading his journal now...it was just tormenting him."
Glendale Unified School District has been insistent that Drew did not commit suicide because of bullying at school. This could be because of the content of the four letters that Drew left—including one to his mother telling her that he was finally happy.
Deana only wishes that she had known sooner: "Had he told me what was going on, I would have taken him out of school."
She said that Crescenta Valley High School's principal has been nothing but helpful to her family in the days after Drew's death. However, she does believe that bullying played a role in Drew's decision to take his life: "The fact that he did do it at school to me was a huge statement."
The Ferraro family is working with the school to start an anti-bullying foundation in memory of Drew, and she has these words for students: "If somebody looks upset, hand them a tissue, pat them on the back—it makes a difference. Teenagers, children, don't realize the impact of their words. Words scar and they hurt."
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