During lunch periods on October 28, sophomore Andjelina Savic passed out bracelets that read, “Break the Silence, End Domestic Violence,” in order to alert the student body of the importance of self-advocacy.

“Silence is where abuse flourishes,” Savic said. “The best thing that we can do is open up the conversation so students can feel comfortable and safe enough to reach out for help.”

Partnering with Theater, Mental Health Club and Robotics, Savic spreads awareness about domestic violence. Her mission is to inform peers, faculty and their families of the ways they can support those dealing with abuse in their homes.

“Schools could give students access to more resources like the guidance office and social workers, [encouraging] students that, if they need something, the school will help them,” Savic said.

Schools play a major role in influencing students’ comfort with requesting and receiving the help they need rather than staying quiet, but they’re not the only way that students can get what they need: their peers can also provide support.

“By volunteering to help, you’re not only educating and benefiting yourself, but also the people around you,” Savic said. “If you have more students that are supporting this initiative, it can encourage more students to join in.”

The call to action encourages others to join in and help speak out for those that cannot speak for themselves. Savic would love others to join in volunteering.

“I feel like, in school communities and communities in general, domestic abuse is a very hush-hush topic and it is not generally discussed,” Savic said. “It is very heavy, and sometimes it is hard for people to have that kind of conversation.”

While it may be a hard subject to discuss, it is one of deep importance. The lack of advocacy in school leads to several misconceptions about the nature and prevalence of abuse.

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding around the subject as well,” Savic said. “That is usually the reason why so many people are ending up in these toxic relationships, and that’s why we need to spread more awareness.”

Wih the topic already being difficult, it’s talked about even less due to its complexity and variety in presentation. Many students are in need of guidance and a better understanding of the subject.

“I’m really grateful that I get to be that voice for a lot of students,” Savic said.

Not only did Savic hand out these bracelets, she also received help from other students who signed up.

A member of Mental Health Club, Zoe Laird, went to students in the commons and cafeteria to hand out bracelets.

“It’s important to me because I’ve seen situations where teens aren’t aware of what is considered a healthy relationship and can get themselves into troubling situations,” Laird said. “I just want to be able to do my job to make sure everyone stays safe before anything bad were to happen.”