Marisa Nielsen, founder of Buddy Box

  Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen 2010

I wanted a service platform that was meaningful to me and something that would make a difference for other teenagers. The Buddy Box is very personal to me. Someone that I love very much could have been helped sooner had there been an anonymous way to get help.  Every day in our schools there are students who need help with serious issues such as bullying, depression, suicide, and drug abuse. The friends of these students hesitate to tell anyone because they don’t want to get involved or they are afraid to be a tattle tale. 

The Buddy Box is an anonymous way for students to leave notes for the school counselor or administrator notifying them that their friend or they are having a problem. Since implementing the Buddy Box in the Cache County School District, administrators and counselors have reported helping students they had no idea were in facing personal hardships.

I hope that students and school faculties alike can integrate the Buddy Box into their school's basic needs. I have seen first hand the positive affects the use of the box can have.

If students ever feel alone, scared or embarrassed by their problems, I hope they can find comfort in using the Buddy Box and get help for their situation. School counselors keep things confidential and respect the privacy of the student. They are trained and qualified individuals and have the resources to help the students seeking help from the box.

Marisa with Curt Hanks, Principal at White Pines Middle School.

CACHE VALLEY STUDENT'S IDEA REDUCED BULLYING AND OTHER SCHOOL PROBLEMS

BUDDY BOX IDEA IS SPREADING TO OTHER STATES

HERALD JOURNAL-MOUNTAIN CREST TEEN'S "BUDDY BOX" A UTAH HIT

       Beazer lock-n-key orders the metal

       boxes...then we unload ALL of them!

     Then my dad spends HOURS drilling the slots in the top of each box. 

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    Kits are assembled, vinyl letters are placed       and posters are placed with each kit.  

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    I then present the Buddy Box and the concept to school boards and student services organizations!

    Boxes are delivered and school

staffs become familiar with the program.

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    The Box is then utilized by school counselors and principals. The change begins!

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