This spring, LICAB was proud to once again partner with Long Island reat estate attorney and former LICAB board member Asaf German to present the Asaf German Spring Anti-Bullying Scholarship, honoring not only academic achievement but a deep understanding of empathy, resilience, and the human experience behind bullying. This year’s recipient, was Ericka Leus, a student from Valley Stream North High School.
In her essay, Ericka offered a profound reflection: “People are like mirrors—fragile, reflective, and shaped by what they’ve seen.” She explored how pain, when left unacknowledged, can twist our perception and lead to harm—not as an excuse, but as a call to look deeper. She reminded us that bullying rarely starts from nowhere; it often begins with hurt that hasn’t yet been healed.
Ericka’s writing challenges us to break cycles of pain by replacing punishment with empathy, silence with support, and discipline with understanding. She believes in restorative practices, mental health check-ins, and the power of vulnerability to heal—and she dares to see even cracked mirrors as capable of reflecting light again.
Congratulations Ericka!
