Miss Ohio visits Licking Valley Middle School

NEWARK - At the end of Sarah Hider's presentation at Licking Valley Middle School, something happened that Hider said hasn't occurred before: A spontaneous dance party.

Nearly 100 sixth, seventh and eight grade girls ran down from the bleachers to dance and sing with Hider, who is the reigning Miss Ohio, as Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" filled the gymnasium Friday afternoon.

"That was a very sort of a surreal, out of body experience," Hider said. "I looked around me and you know maybe girls who aren't always friends were smiling and dancing and sort of just seeing each other as people and as friends.

"Hopefully we created a lot of happiness today."

Hider gave a presentation to the girls on the importance of having a positive body image and the negative effects of bullying.

Hider, who grew up in Wooster said she was bullied in school by a girl in her class. She said the girl would prank call her and made fun of her to the point where she avoided going to some school activities.

"I was afraid I was going to see her and she would make fun of me," Hider told the girls.

Hider said the bullying affected her self-esteem, something she doesn't want for other girls. She encouraged the middle school students to talk with someone if they are being bullied, not to let bullies stop them from participating in activities they enjoy and that it's alright to cry if they are upset.

Lucy Morrison, an eighth grader, said the talk was very informative and she agreed with Hider's message "to be confident in yourself and don't let others tear you down."

Hider said she has traveled to other schools to give similar talks.

"If I could do that every day of my reign for the last four months, I'd really be OK with that," Hider said.

Traci Lausberg, a seventh grade language arts teacher, said Hider and her daughter became friends while in college at Ohio University and wanted Hider to share her positive message with her students.

Lausberg said middle school can be a difficult age for young girls and they struggle with self-confidence.

"They need to know that they have self-worth. That it is OK to cry, it's OK to still be young, and it's OK to grow up all at the same time," Lausberg said.

mdevito@gannett.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @MariaDeVito13