Facing up to a bully –
Bullying is a big problem. It can make kids feel hurt, scared, sick, lonely, embarrassed, and sad. Bullying is a major problem in today’s society, especially among teens. A victim may turn around and bully someone he determines to be weaker, thus perpetuating the problem. Bullies might make fun of others for many things, including – appearance, behavior, race or religion, social status, sexual identity, etc.
I would like to share my story of how I was bullied and teased for three years in middle school. Twenty-eight percent of young people from grades six through 12 have been the victim of bullying. (A student, suppose his name, Derek) was in Standard One and he was a well-mannered boy. His parents taught him to behave himself in school and not to fight with other boys. However, his mild manner was wrongly perceived as weakness by some of the rougher boys. So one of them, an overweight boy that stood at least two inches taller than Derek, took to bullying him.
It began with shoving. Then the bully started hitting Derek as and when he felt like it. Recess time became an unpleasant time for Derek for the bully and his cronies would come looking for him. He did not fight back nor did he tell his parents or teachers because he did to want to cause any trouble. So he endured the bullying, for a few weeks.
Gradually the bullying got worse and Derek knew he had to face up to the bully, for better or for worse. So during recess one day, he stood in the shade of a tree and waited for the bully to show up. True to form, the bully came. This time Derek was ready. He held a short stick hidden behind his back.
The bully came with clenched fists but before he could land a punch, Derek lashed out with his stick on the bully’s legs. The bully cried out in pain and collapsed on the ground. Derek raised the stick to strike again but stopped when he saw that the bully was crying and begging him for mercy.
Teachers and prefects arrived to see what the commotion was all about. He and the bully were taken to the headmaster’s office and each given two cuts for fighting. It was worth it. The bully never troubled him again. Bullying is a big problem that affects lots of kids. Being bullied can make kids feel really bad, and the stress of dealing with it can make them feel sick. Bullying can have significant negative outcomes, for both the bully and the victim. Parents are aware their child is being bullied only about half the time.
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