Bullying, which is on the rise in every part of society, is no longer a school issue. Bullying is not just a problem for the victim, but also the bully. Bullying is not a problem that can be solved completely. However, there are several ways to stop it. We can all do our part to stop this issue.
Being the victim of bullying is a horrible feeling. I have experienced it myself. Bullying causes psychological, physical, and emotional trauma to victims. In some horrific cases, bullying can lead to suicide, PTSD or other mental illness. In a new study, over one-fourth of students claimed to have been bullied in school (Dr. Deborah Temkin). Personal experience has taught me that bullying is a terrible thing. The bullying was so bad that it forced me to change high schools in my sophomore year. I felt worthless, shattered, and alone. Bullying can be based on race, disability, sexuality or other factors. (Liam Hackett). Many people bullied me at my former high school, including because I loved learning and school. As a result, I felt that I had to stop enjoying learning in order to gain acceptance from the bullies. It is wrong for people to be bullied and tormented because they love someone or something.
As a freshman in high-school, I used to question why bullies would do what they did. It was hard for me to understand why people would want to hurt me physically and mentally. I grew up with the most loving people. What makes bullies act in this way? Bullying can be motivated by a variety of factors, including the victim’s family life, their social acceptance, their self-worth, or mental illness (Rachael Retzner). Families with a lack of openness about emotions and feelings can lead to bullying. It is possible that children in families who lack love and warmth are more likely bullies. They are looking for outside approval, as well as a feeling of value and self-worth (McKayla Arnold). Parental and guardian influence can be a major factor in why people bully. This is because if there are no family values and love, then they will try to find it elsewhere. Someone might also have been bullied themselves and want to retaliate by “passing it on” and making another person feel the same way. In one of the many bullying incidents I experienced at my old high school, many girls treated me in a certain way when they were surrounded by so-called “popular” girls. But then treated me in a completely different way “normally” without their presence. This was to prove that these girls were “cool”, to get a fake score on a scale of social acceptance and popularity. This can be a reason why bullying occurs, since more attention is paid to negative than positive behaviors.
Though there is no perfect solution to bullying, many steps are taken to reduce it or punish those who are responsible. Many people can help to end bullying within our society by doing a variety of things. The states of America have different ways to deal with bullying. But they are all doing something in order to stop it, protect children and others who are bullied. Some states like Michigan have laws and regulations in place to fight bullying, while other have policies in schools or educational institutions to deal with it. People can stop bullying by taking simple steps whenever they see it. The more we recognize and understand this behavior, the better it is for us all. The free app “OK2SAY”, for Michigan’s teens and young people, allows those who witness bullying or are being bullied by others to send anonymous tips directly to the school faculty and/or authorities. Early bullying prevention is important. Children should be taught what bullying is and how to recognize it. They must also learn that it’s unacceptable.
As a conclusion, bullying affects both bullies and victims. There are things that can be done in our communities today and tomorrow to help put an immediate and lasting stop to it. Bullying can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. It affects children, teens, and adults. Bullying is a serious issue that affects kids, teenagers, and adults. Every seven minutes, another child bullies a youngster on the playground. In 85% cases, no one intervenes. As a community, we must take into account bullying in all its forms and emphasize it in schools worldwide. The truth is, we all deserve respect, kindness, and to be lifted up.
