Sophia Spencer is a 7-year-old girl who loves bugs. Ever since her mom, Nicole, bought her her very first bugcatcher net when she was a toddler, Sophia has been fascinated by the tiny creatures.
“Her best friend and her named themselves ‘the bug hunters’, a name she still uses today,” said Nicole. “For some reason I cannot explain, she has a connection with bugs.”
But when the family moved to a new town in Eastern Ontario, the kids at Sophia’s school weren’t ready to accept Sophia’s bug-loving ways and branded her a “weirdo”.
Morning insect walk. With Hoppers Sophia's grasshopper. #BugsR4Girls pic.twitter.com/PfAUEsjMkk
— Nicole&SophiaSpencer (@sigalmummy775) August 27, 2016
One girl told the other kids not to play with Sophia, she was physically beaten and “dragged through mud” and, in the most heartbreaking incident, a boy asked to see Sophia’s current bug best friend and, when she did, he stomped on the lil critter. All this, just because some kids didn’t “get” Sophia’s passion.
“This series of similar events kept happening,” said Nicole, “I encouraged her to speak up to teachers and she would come home and tell me the teacher either ignored her or did nothing about the names and the teasing.”
Nicole was determined to encourage her daughter to follow her passion and ignore the cruel bullying, so when Sophia asked if she could make a career out of bugs someday, Nicole reached out to the professionals for help.
She contacted the Entomology Society of Canada (ESC), explaining about the bullying and asking if there was any way they could help.
A young girl who loves insects is being bullied & needs our support. DM your email & we'll connect you! #BugsR4Girls pic.twitter.com/kjtfSJSlre
— Entomological Society of Canada (@CanEntomologist) August 25, 2016
“I am at a loss as to how to continue to encourage her in this field of science,” wrote Nicole, “I want her to know from an expert that she is not weird or strange for loving bugs and insects.”
And the responses came flooding in for this little bug-lover in need.
“7 species named after me, I think I can help with this! Happy to show her [my] insect collection,” wrote one fellow entomologist.
7 insect species named after me I think I can help with this! Happy to show her insect collection @westernuBio #BugsR4Girls
— Nina M. Zitani, PhD (@papiliovorus) August 25, 2016
Another Twitter said, “I love beetles so much I’m writing 3 books about them” and promised to send Sophia a signed copy to keep her passion alive.
https://twitter.com/MGLnrd/status/768902992582049792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A lab told Sophia she could contact them any time for papers, nets, and whatever else she needed to continue her love of creepy crawlies.
she can contact my lab anytime! We are happy to send her papers, nets, whatever will keep her entomology passion going!
— Dr. Jessica L Ware Lab ?️????? (@JessicaLWareLab) August 25, 2016
Or even offering Sophia another bug enthusiast pen pal.
I am not an entomologist but have a bug mad kid (7yo) in Australia if she would like a pen pal – let me know!
— Jacki Liddle @[email protected] (@jacki_liddle) August 25, 2016
“There have been people working in Canada, the Amazon rainforest, Venezuela, the UK, and USA reaching out to offer support and encouragement,” said Nicole, “It has truly been a blessing.”
And Sophia was said to be jumping up and down on her bed in excitement as scientists around the world got in touch, saying, “Oh my, I must be dreaming this!”
The outpouring of support for the youngster is enough to restore anyone’s faith in humanity.
Keep bug hunting, Sophia — the whole world’s behind you!
