Xariah (13) selected as 1st Friend Mail Recipient of 2026-2027 School Year! 💝

11 hours ago
2 min read

"Very quiet and private" 8th Grader finds the courage to speak up after relentless racial bullying.

13-year-old Xariah is "empathetic, selfless and shy," says her mom. The 8th Grader from Arkansas loves to paint, and has a talent for writing and illustrating books. One of her favorite things is being immersed in the stories, cats and clans of the "Warrior Cats" book series! 🐈‍⬛ When she grows up, her dream is to launch global wildlife reserves for endangered animals.

Xariah's kindness doesn’t stop with animals. Her mom says Xariah is always looking for something nice to do for others. She's "known for doing acts-of-kindness for others"... and not telling anyone! One time, Xariah saved up enough money doing yard work to buy a new pair of shoes for a classmate that was picked on for having off-brand shoes. Her mom didn't even find out about it until the boy's mother thanked her.

For her 11th birthday, Xariah told her parents she did not want any presents, but instead asked for money - and then bought $500 worth of pet products to donate to a local shelter.

The empathetic Arkansan (who turns 14 in September) hopes to protect endangered animals in their natural habitats when she grows up. 🧡

It's hard to imagine a more caring person than this kind Arkansas teen - or that she has endured years of heart-wrenching bullying, targeted with racially-based slurs, name-calling and social exclusion - even cutting her hair on the school bus. This relentless bullying followed her - and her 4 siblings - through years of school in Indiana to their current home in Arkansas.

Xariah's mom says that - of her 5 children - Xariah is the quiet, private one who prefers not to draw attention to herself - not even for acts of kindness! But after being called the "n-word" one more time while walking to school, she summoned the courage to let her mom post about the bullying, and to talk to a local NBC news affiliate.

“I am extremely upset about what he said to me. And I don’t know why he would say that to somebody,” she told the reporter. Now, the news feature reports, Xariah wants to turn the experience into something positive. She plans to start a club at school designed to help more students feel included and supported!