Kid Gets Bullied For His Homemade T-Shirt Design, The University Of Tennessee Responds By Turning It Into Their Official Merch
Bullying is never a solution to anything. But some bullying stories do have a happy and wholesome ending. Fourth-grade teacher Laura Snyder posted the story of what happened online. She said that a student didn’t have any official UT apparel for the so-called ‘College Colors Day’ on which he wanted to represent the university’s sports team The Vols (The Volunteers).
According to Snyder, the kid drew his own University of Tennessee logo on a piece of paper and put it on an orange T-shirt. He was very proud of it, and we love it as well. But when the fourth-grader designed his own University of Tennessee T-shirt, his drawing was met not with praise, but with teasing from his classmates at the Altamonte Elementary School, Florida. However, the university reacted in an unexpected, and awesome way.
One fourth-grader made his own University of Tennessee T-shirt for College Colors Day
Image credits: Laura Snyder
His teacher said that kids started making fun of the boy
Image credits: Laura Snyder
After the teacher’s post went viral, the university sent the entire class lots of goodies
Image credits: Laura Snyder
Image credits: Laura Snyder
Image credits: Laura Snyder
Image credits: Laura Snyder
Image credits: Laura Snyder
Image credits: Laura Snyder
The university also turned the boy’s design into an official T-shirt
Image credits: UTKnoxville
Image credits: UTVolShop
Fortunately for everyone, the University of Tennessee seems to be full of awesome, kindhearted people. They reacted to the situation in the most incredible way.
Not only did UT send the kid and his classmates bags, hats, school supplies, towers, water bottles, and other cool things, the university turned the boy’s logo into an official school T-shirt.
Tyra Elizabeth Haag, the Director of Media Relations at the University of Tennessee had this to say to Bored Panda: “As the Volunteers, the University of Tennessee believes in putting others before ourselves. We’re so glad we were able to support this student, put a smile on his face and bring more orange into his life. In the true spirit of UT, alumni, fans and honorary Volunteers around the world have stepped up. Pre-sales of the shirt have reached more than 16,000. All proceeds from the sales will go to the non-profit STOMP Out Bullying.”
Healthline writes that bullying has a thoroughly negative effect for everyone involved, including the bully, the victim and everyone connected to the teasing. The US Department of Health and Human Services states that bullying can lead to depression, anxiety, poor diet and sleep, health problems, and decreased academic achievement.
Bullying can be stopped by creating a community of support, engaging with the child, and educating others about the negative effects of bullying. What’s more, it’s important to empower bystanders: if you see someone getting bullied, help them out or tell an authority figure.
Dear Pandas, what do you think of the T-shirt design? What do you think of the university’s response? What can we do to stop bullying? Share your thoughts and feelings below!
People adored how everyone came together to stop bullying
Yup! See how accomplished academics react in the best way :) wish the boy all the best for his student years !!
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I live in Oak Ridge Tn - about 30 from UT. I saw this on Twitter last week and was so happy UT can thru for the child and class . And I bought the shirt for my 4 (ages24,22,18 and 15) kids and myself.
I'm not a sports fan, nor am I from TN, but I want one too! They are currently out and they're pre-order only. Website is a little glitchy too.
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You know what I got for being bullied? Scars and no self love. I have poverty and a self mutilation problem. I have hate for every single person that hurt me. This kid doesn't need material things and to feel like a victim he needs for those kids to be disciplined to learn from what they did. He needs his school to hold an anti bullying seminar. He needs the system to not fail him. Kids are cruel and they grow up to be worse unless something is done. Do you know how many times I've tried to reach out as a child and get help from a tv show for someone to care to fix me because I thought I was broken? The bullies are the problem. He doesn't need to think he's always going to get rewarded for being bullied. He needs to know he can learn in peace and in a safe environment. He needs to know that zero tolerance means zero tolerance. He had pride and creativity and his heart was ripped out and broken by someone who didn't learn to treat others with respect and now he will think he's nothing.
Exact same for me, my scholl failed me as well, i fully agree with you. The bullies nedd to be dealt with, and not him rewarded.
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The design not only looks great, but the reaction of UT is so heartwarming that I would start colleges there right away. The only thing standing in the way is that I am 65 and besides that I live in the Netherlands (Europe) traveling to Tenessee every day and keeping your lunchbox fresh would be a real pain. Thumbs up for UT! and for the designerboy: You did an awesome job. Maybe one day you'll be the ceo of a graphics design company with your UT shirt in a frame behind your desk.
the design on the tshirt looks pretty cool!!! I would buy it but I am not a UT student and have no ties =)
I really like how they used his design for the UT shirt ... I hope they pay him royalties for it ...
They don’t pay the team members who play ball for the Vols, so I doubt they’ll pay this kid.
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why is in states bully for everything? I dont get it...He is just a child a******s...
Im from Europe and I was bullied simply for existing. I wish I could go back in time and be myself and ignore those a**holes.
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So incredibly proud of my University for their love. Thats what being a Vol means! The link to the shirt went out in every single one of my group chats and i think just about everyone has preordered theirs!
I’m glad he isn’t sad anymore and doesn’t have to feel like the poor kid / outcast. Kids deserve happiness.
That is why I am a Vols fan. Also, the kid had real hutzpah wearing that in Gator Country
I would also like to add that the University has a rock on campus that students can spray paint with a message and it really only gets professionally painted for important football games and programs on campus. The rock today as I walked past it heading to class today was a replica of this wonderful boy's shirt. Brought me a smile and a tear :)
If only the UT football team could as excited about winning as the kids did about all they swag the university sent them.
How sweet!!! I ❤️how U of T made this shirt. Bet THIS showed those bullying girls.
I'm choked up over the total awesomeness of that T-shirt design and all the people that came together for this aspiring student
I hope the students who taunted him about his shirt are known among the students and are taken down a notch. I want to wear one of those shirts, even though I'm not a fan of Tennessee's politics overall and know nothing about the University, except for this outpouring of good will.
The teacher in this story deserves some praise too. She obviously cares a great deal about her students. The university are amazing the way they have supported the boy, especially with the T-shirt design & donating the procedures to an anti-bullying charity.
it would have been better if the actual shirt design included the details matching the original, such as notebook paper and safety pins
Being born and raised in Knoxville Tennessee, Go Vols! This is the epitome of The Volunteer Spirit. I'm so happy for this boy, his class, and his teacher. By his teacher sharing his story, so many amazing positive people responded to this story. I couldn't be more excited for the swag the little boy and his classmates received or the antibullying shirt they made from his design. It's just fantastic for him and his class. I hope they all enjoy their goodies for a long time to come and many thanks to everyone who made this happen for them.
Because ppl want other ppl to think they're part of the solution on here, releasing them from ever doing anything that's actually productive towards the bully problem, and even though we all that the response was a huge overreaction and those shirts look like a 1st Grader made it.
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The parents (of the bullies) are 100% to blame if their kid bullies others. Children learn by example. So besides teaching, you must SHOW them kindness, compassion, and understanding from birth. Be a good person, and your kids will follow. Properly punish your kids properly if they do. Show them why that's not ok, and the consequences that can come from years of bullying.
I agree for the most part, kids typically start the process from what they learn at home. But it's not like confronting the parents will guarantee any results. So many parents let the tv babysit their children, or you have kids with divorced parents and the one who has custody constantly jumps in and out of terrible relationships. I see that happen all the time. My girlfriends ex-best friend is a mess. She has 3 kids, from 3 different guys and she refuses to be alone, so her codependent nature has dragged her kids through hell. Her oldest is 19 now and joined the army, but was quickly booted for numerous mental issues. Her middle child is 16 and starting down a bad path, then her 1 yr old daughter who's father is abusive and now in jail, gets to go through everything her older siblings had to. Yet my girlfriend and I refuse to have children because we really enjoy having our lives to do as we want. You constantly see the people who shouldn't have kids, have the most.
Load More Replies... Yup! See how accomplished academics react in the best way :) wish the boy all the best for his student years !!
Load More Replies... I live in Oak Ridge Tn - about 30 from UT. I saw this on Twitter last week and was so happy UT can thru for the child and class . And I bought the shirt for my 4 (ages24,22,18 and 15) kids and myself.
I'm not a sports fan, nor am I from TN, but I want one too! They are currently out and they're pre-order only. Website is a little glitchy too.
Load More Replies... You know what I got for being bullied? Scars and no self love. I have poverty and a self mutilation problem. I have hate for every single person that hurt me. This kid doesn't need material things and to feel like a victim he needs for those kids to be disciplined to learn from what they did. He needs his school to hold an anti bullying seminar. He needs the system to not fail him. Kids are cruel and they grow up to be worse unless something is done. Do you know how many times I've tried to reach out as a child and get help from a tv show for someone to care to fix me because I thought I was broken? The bullies are the problem. He doesn't need to think he's always going to get rewarded for being bullied. He needs to know he can learn in peace and in a safe environment. He needs to know that zero tolerance means zero tolerance. He had pride and creativity and his heart was ripped out and broken by someone who didn't learn to treat others with respect and now he will think he's nothing.
Exact same for me, my scholl failed me as well, i fully agree with you. The bullies nedd to be dealt with, and not him rewarded.
Load More Replies... The design not only looks great, but the reaction of UT is so heartwarming that I would start colleges there right away. The only thing standing in the way is that I am 65 and besides that I live in the Netherlands (Europe) traveling to Tenessee every day and keeping your lunchbox fresh would be a real pain. Thumbs up for UT! and for the designerboy: You did an awesome job. Maybe one day you'll be the ceo of a graphics design company with your UT shirt in a frame behind your desk.
the design on the tshirt looks pretty cool!!! I would buy it but I am not a UT student and have no ties =)
I really like how they used his design for the UT shirt ... I hope they pay him royalties for it ...
They don’t pay the team members who play ball for the Vols, so I doubt they’ll pay this kid.
Load More Replies... why is in states bully for everything? I dont get it...He is just a child a******s...
Im from Europe and I was bullied simply for existing. I wish I could go back in time and be myself and ignore those a**holes.
Load More Replies... So incredibly proud of my University for their love. Thats what being a Vol means! The link to the shirt went out in every single one of my group chats and i think just about everyone has preordered theirs!
I’m glad he isn’t sad anymore and doesn’t have to feel like the poor kid / outcast. Kids deserve happiness.
That is why I am a Vols fan. Also, the kid had real hutzpah wearing that in Gator Country
I would also like to add that the University has a rock on campus that students can spray paint with a message and it really only gets professionally painted for important football games and programs on campus. The rock today as I walked past it heading to class today was a replica of this wonderful boy's shirt. Brought me a smile and a tear :)
If only the UT football team could as excited about winning as the kids did about all they swag the university sent them.
How sweet!!! I ❤️how U of T made this shirt. Bet THIS showed those bullying girls.
I'm choked up over the total awesomeness of that T-shirt design and all the people that came together for this aspiring student
I hope the students who taunted him about his shirt are known among the students and are taken down a notch. I want to wear one of those shirts, even though I'm not a fan of Tennessee's politics overall and know nothing about the University, except for this outpouring of good will.
The teacher in this story deserves some praise too. She obviously cares a great deal about her students. The university are amazing the way they have supported the boy, especially with the T-shirt design & donating the procedures to an anti-bullying charity.
it would have been better if the actual shirt design included the details matching the original, such as notebook paper and safety pins
Being born and raised in Knoxville Tennessee, Go Vols! This is the epitome of The Volunteer Spirit. I'm so happy for this boy, his class, and his teacher. By his teacher sharing his story, so many amazing positive people responded to this story. I couldn't be more excited for the swag the little boy and his classmates received or the antibullying shirt they made from his design. It's just fantastic for him and his class. I hope they all enjoy their goodies for a long time to come and many thanks to everyone who made this happen for them.
Because ppl want other ppl to think they're part of the solution on here, releasing them from ever doing anything that's actually productive towards the bully problem, and even though we all that the response was a huge overreaction and those shirts look like a 1st Grader made it.
Load More Replies... The parents (of the bullies) are 100% to blame if their kid bullies others. Children learn by example. So besides teaching, you must SHOW them kindness, compassion, and understanding from birth. Be a good person, and your kids will follow. Properly punish your kids properly if they do. Show them why that's not ok, and the consequences that can come from years of bullying.
I agree for the most part, kids typically start the process from what they learn at home. But it's not like confronting the parents will guarantee any results. So many parents let the tv babysit their children, or you have kids with divorced parents and the one who has custody constantly jumps in and out of terrible relationships. I see that happen all the time. My girlfriends ex-best friend is a mess. She has 3 kids, from 3 different guys and she refuses to be alone, so her codependent nature has dragged her kids through hell. Her oldest is 19 now and joined the army, but was quickly booted for numerous mental issues. Her middle child is 16 and starting down a bad path, then her 1 yr old daughter who's father is abusive and now in jail, gets to go through everything her older siblings had to. Yet my girlfriend and I refuse to have children because we really enjoy having our lives to do as we want. You constantly see the people who shouldn't have kids, have the most.
Load More Replies... 
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