WHEN BEING BULLIED BECOMES A REALITY

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Were you bullied as a child? 

I sure was, everyday, as my disability made me an easier target to pick out from the crowd.

I would like to share my story, the lasting effects that took hold for many years.


EARLY YEARS


It, it all began when I was 6. Each day at recess, I would be doing anything and if I was seen by these two older boys. They would push me down a lot, call me names and mock me, this went on for a year or so. This bullying was physical yes, but also mental abuse.


Fast forward to when I was 12, I finally had enough and started fighting back, but in a positive way.


I started to simply ignore them and avoid any conflict. By doing this, it was easy to make friends as my shyness and anxiety wore off and I enjoyed the little things. Before I knew it, I had graduated and was about to merge into high school, with it being a brand new school, new friends, and a new fear of bullying.


HIGH SCHOOL AND BULLYING, WITH A TWIST


When my first day of grade 9 came and went, there was something different, not only was it very easy for me to make friends, but there was no bullying! I was very happy to find this peace.


This sense of peace was a nice change, but shyness had returned.


This made dating very difficult and I quickly realized that it may have started differently in a good way, this is where the shyness returned.


I know what you're thinking, "Ummmm Craig… Every guy has to be shy at some point in high school". You're absolutely right, but the anxiety that came with the shyness returned with a bruised ego. As I started to build up the courage to ask a girl out, to my shock and INSTANT embarrassment, I was laughed at, with a reply of "Ewww no". That hurt A LOT!


This happened a few times to me over the remaining years of high school. I switched between just ignoring and avoiding, or hanging around with girls, talking, developing a friendship. 


There are times it worked and eventually developed a relationship, and other times, the rude comments returned. My least favorite is when a girl actually told me "I don't date people like you".

Yes, this hurt me, where I became depressed 


LATER ON IN LIFE


I have graduated high school, time has flown, as it always does. I have also started to not care what people think or say, by being myself as well doing this, it brought back that sense of peace where it was easy to make friends.


MY MESSAGE


This goes out to anyone who can relate/ the bullies of today as the concept of bullying branched out to other avenues with all of the social media platforms. This new age of bullying and the different ways of doing so makes me really upset, if it doesn't upset you… MAYBE YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM


Remember to always be yourself, have fun, and don't sweat the small stuff. Enjoy life with all of your close friends and loved ones, and most importantly, pay no attention to the bullies and the people who stare. Sure I still get bullied but I have learned to turn a negative to a positive and just go on with my day.


My condolences to all of the victims of online bullying who had felt that there was no other  but to end it all.


To both the bullies who are doing this online are still bullying physically, "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!"

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