Bullying

I would first like to apologize for not posting in a long time. However, this post is important to me. Especially given the circumstances and time that I am choosing to share this essay with the world. I just had a really bad week and it was in part due to a form of bullying. I managed to get through it with the help of friends and family who support both me and my happiness. Please remember that being afraid to speak out about someone who is bullying you is normal, but you should still do it. Never let someone disrespect you in anyway, whether that be physically or verbally. If you feel like you have no one to talk too, please don't be afraid to email or message me. The biggest comeback to bullying is staying humble and kind. What the world needs now more than ever is love. 

Bullying

Bob Kerrey once said “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change”. I chose to start the paper with a quote on kindness because bullying is a topic that we can all relate to in some way, shape, or form. Sadly, it is hard to find any individual in this world who hasn’t been bullied in a way. Whether it was a small comment on a random Tuesday in class, or continuously being told rude comments on social media every night.  Bullying is bullying. It can affect someone’s emotional state and sometimes leads a person to go to drastic measures just to find some peace in their life. So, what is bullying, who tends to be bullied, where does it take place, and what can we do to prevent it?

Bullying happens to a lot of people. It is most common in school age children. In general, bullying is a real or perceived power imbalance.  Bullying can create lasting and serious problems to both the bully and the bullied. A person who bullies usually uses something such as physical strength or popularity to hurt another person or embarrass them using information they have about them. Bullying is harmful because it isn’t something that just happens once. It is repeated often. A bully does their worst when it is something done every day and can break the other person down slowly, day by day. Bullying can be things like making threats, hitting someone, or spreading rumors and lies about another person (What Is Bullying).

Bullying can happen to anyone. You can be bullied for things as simple as wearing glasses, your weight, your height, your race, and many other things. Bullies like to make fun of things that can not be controlled. Bullying can happen verbally. They can tease a person relentlessly for their weight. They can call someone by rude names, such as four eyes. Bullying can even be found inside of inappropriate sexual comments. Other forms of verbal bullying would be taunting or threatening to cause harm. Bullying can also happen socially. You can leave a friend you think is weird out on purpose. Telling someone not to be friends with another person is also a form of social bullying. Spreading rumors is a form of bullying that is very common in high school. It is used to destroy the reputation of the other person. A  bully can choose to embarrass another person in public as well. Bullying can also be done physically. This can be hitting, tripping, spitting, or kicking. A person can also break another person’s things and it be considered physical bullying. Rude hand gestures are put into this category as well. In this generation, a new form of bullying has come to light. Cyber bullying makes it easier for the bully to get to the person even when they are in the comfort and safety of their own home. The torment can be continued no matter where the other person is. (What Is Bullying)

Bullying can happen anywhere and anytime. You don’t have to be at school or at work. Especially with the introduction of the internet. I have personally seen (and reported) accounts that are specifically intended to “roast” people. A term which here means make fun of the person as a whole. Even if you block the person or pages that are being used at home, the effects of bullying follow you. It can pop up in your mind at any point throughout the day. Whether you are at the grocery store, taking a shower, or lying in bed. What someone says to us can stick with us for years and years. It may never leave. That is why it is important to always try and be as kind as you possibly can. You never know what a person is going through.

Bullying is found everywhere and at all times. However, there are things that everyone can do to try and prevent it. As a teacher, it is important to be knowledgeable and observant. Always watch your children and listen when a child is claiming they are being bullied. Other people don’t get to decide what hurts us. We do. So if a person is saying they are being bullied, it is usually because they are. Whatever someone is saying to them is hurting them, whether it be big or small. It is also important to make sure the parent is involved. Keeping a child’s parent clueless will make it to where the parent can not talk to the child on their own at home. You should let both the students and parents know what you expect from them. Make sure they know you expect a positive environment and that no forms of bullying are allowed. As a parent, you should be very observant of your child. Look for signs of bullying. If the child has a sudden shift in mood change, it could be because what another child has done to them has affected them emotionally. You should also make sure your child is taught how to handle a bully. Let them know that it is okay to reach for help, whether it is from you, a teacher, or a friend. Due to cyberbullying, it may also be a good idea to set boundaries on technology. Maybe slowly introduce them to different social media sites so that they don’t get overwhelmed, because the internet is filled with a whole lot of hate. You should also prevent bullying before it happens. Make sure your child knows that bullying is NOT acceptable during any circumstance. Make your home “bully free”. If you find out that your child is bullying another person, make your disapproval known. Also make sure to look for self esteem issues. A child usually bullies another when they are scared about what others will see in them. As a student, you should always report any form of bullying you see. If you stand by and let it happen, you are just as bad as the bully. Make sure to never bully back. You can not fight fire with fire. Be as kind as you possibly can. Try and avoid being alone. There is always someone who will have your back, so make some friends (How Parents).

Bullying will probably never be fully prevented. It is going to happen, whether or not we want it too. The biggest thing you can do is to try and be kind at all times. The world needs love. Making sure you aren’t a bully yourself is the first step. Never be afraid to speak out when seeing someone else being bullied. We are all together as the human race. So why not work together to make the world a better place?