Hi, my name is Ruthanne Johnson. I am an 8th grader at Toledo School for the Arts and I was a victim of bullying. I was called names, and much worse, and I was drained. One day I decided to write an email to Oprah Winfrey, I poured my heart onto the page and let here know that this was my cry of distress. And after waiting for months she answered. She took me under her wing and showed me in my mind my destiny. I was Oprah’s guest at the Lady Gaga “Born this Way” foundation launch at Harvard on February 29, 2012. I got to meet both Lady Gaga and Oprah and together they have changed my life.

I started a foundation called Be You. It is a Youth Empowerment / Anti-bullying foundation. My mission is to speak out every chance I get on the tragic effects of bullying in my life and countless others. I want to speak at every school, camp, organization and event to educate our youth, parents, teachers, administrators and public officials on 100% tolerance. I have already spoken at a number of events and intend to be a voice, an advocate and a beacon of light in the darkness of ignorance.