A Mid-Michigan middle schooler is hoping to spread kindness and love after learning about the death of a local high school student one year ago.
Sylvia Torok is not your ordinary seventh grader.
The Holt Junior High student is focused and on a mission.
"I want to make as many people smile as I can," she said.
This idea came to fruition when she learned about the death of
Sydney Zaban - a student of East Lansing High School who took her own life at the age of 15 on January 13, 2016.
According to Heather Zaban, Sydney's mother, her daughter wrote down a list of goals a day before she died - change the world, make 2,000 people smile, and help 20 people.
Sylvia was touched by Sydney and wanted to make a difference.
She had never met her but she wanted to keep her goals alive through a campaign to promote kindness.
So far, Sylvia has gone to 6 schools in the Greater-Lansing area to make presentations on bullying and to be kind in honor of Sydney.
"Bullying is not good... I want to make people smile," she mentions.
She also hands out "For Sydney's Sake" bracelets and handmade smiles to those she meet.
" I had no idea how much my daughter's story was going to affect people... she made a large impact on a lot of people," said Zaban.
Sylvia wants everyone to take a stand against bullying and just love one another.
"Don't be a bully, but also don't be a bystander... you don't know another person's story," said Sylvia.
She hopes to do more presentations on bullying and continue to spread the message of "Be Kind" throughout the community.
The message of "For Sydney's Sake" is a call to action to be nice, kind, and to share love with everyone you meet.
Heather Zaban continues to spread her daughter's legacy
through t-shirts, bracelets, and inspirational messages.
For more information, visit "For Sydney's Sake" on Facebook.
