Let's Talk About...Bullying

Now, I understand this is going to be different from the previous blog posts, but this is a topic I've always wanted to talk about and be open to discussion. I believe this issue is vital for kids of today and needs to be talked about for anyone that may be going through a difficult time right now in school.

Right now with you all, I'm going to be honest and truthful.

I was once bullied.

I was bullied for the first time in primary school in prep.

It continued for three years.

But there was one time in particular that I remember so clearly.

I was called fat. It wasn't exactly in those words, but it was under the same context.

It ruined me.

I started to think to myself, if one person thought I was fat, did everyone think the same thing?

I'm now 19 years old, have finished school and still think I'm fat.

This will stick with me for the rest of my life in how I view myself and the thought process on how other people view me.

However, many have it or have had it worse than what I did.

I've mention this before, but people can be cruel. Many ask the same question as to why they do it, what is the motive behind them making someone else's life a living hell. The truth is, it's many factors.

My parents always told me the reason why people were mean to me or didn't like me is because they were jealous of me. I always questioned how? Why? How can anyone be jealous of me?

They replied because I was a lovely person with a big heart.

I didn't believe them.

Obviously, I'm now older and I'm no longer institutionalised in school anymore, I understand it a lot more now. But, that also doesn't mean bullying still doesn't occur. For school kids and teenagers, bullying effects them the most.

I have younger friends, some that are still in school and they talk to me about how someone's treating them, my first instinct is to get into a domestic.

Obviously, I'm naturally a protective person.

But hearing the emotion and feelings that they are dealing with hurt me, because I know how they feel.

But this happens everywhere.

Want to know the big secret as to why bullies to what they do?

They're insecure. Many teenagers and kids are told this all the time, many don't believe it, but it's true. Bullies bully for the reason that they are insecure within themselves.

If they can make someone else feel worthless in themselves, they only do it to make themselves feel better, that they have some type of power over people. They target kids and teenagers that already have insecurities, picking at them and crushing them piece by piece.

That's why depression and anxiety starts. That's why teenagers and kids the age of 12 are committing suicide. Because kids are cruel.

Social media has made it easier for bullying to start, targeting them online and being known as 'keyboard heroes' (as what our parents call them). You can argue with me about how you can block people or delete messages and comments from them, but even if the words disappear, they don't disappear from people's minds. It stays with them and I agree. You can't take back what you've said, hence the term 'Treat others they way you wished to be treated.

My favourite analogy that I like to use is this;

I feel like I could talk about this topic for hours, or even write a whole novel on it. I was lucky enough to talk about the experience in an interview with a local magazine where many read it and was inspired by it, which made my heart warm and I thank those people who did read it and took something out of it.

But now, I have advice for the teenagers that will hopefully find this and read this.

Keep going.

It's tough now, but I promise you that you have a full life ahead of you and you can get through this. Keep your head up and tell someone, you will regret it if you don't. There is a life after high school, high school isn't forever. I learned that.

If you even have friends that continue to give you grief on a decision, mistake or action they've made or make you feel low in yourself, ask yourself these three questions;

Are they good for you?

Do they make you happy?

Can you live without them?

I can't make the decision for you, but if you answered yes to all three, I don't need to say anymore, I think you in yourself already know what the answer is.

I know that me writing a blog post will not stop bullying everywhere in the world and help everyone, but I hope in some way it will get people talking and make them think about their actions in the way they treat anyone.

Make sure if you can't talk to someone you know, there are numbers you can call:

Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

I did, and it was the best thing I ever did.

You are not alone.

I promise it will be okay.

Stay strong and keep going.

#bullying #highschool #drama #2017 #advice #lifestyle