Bullies

What I would say to the victim…

Bullies are just louder than others and those are the ones we tend to hear.

Bullies tend to be the only thing we see when we are hurt.

We can’t see the people who have our backs, or those who are being kind because all we feel and see is pain from the loud voices of the bullies.

We also tend to put our heads down and just take it, instead of standing up for ourselves. It becomes a choice to take it or NOT take it.

It is not your fault! Don’t let them make you feel like you are one who is wrong. You did nothing wrong!

Don’t let anyone choose for you how you are going to feel about yourself! They don’t have that right! Don’t give them that power! You are stronger than you think. Hold your head high! You have every right to stand up for yourself!

Look for the people who love you. I know they may be hard to see right now, but they are there. Don’t stay quiet! Tell someone what’s going on. Your family, maybe your favorite teacher, another student that you can trust… they love you and want to help.

Your value and your worth are not in how others see you. Your value and worth is in how God sees you. He loves you so much that He sent His ONLY son to die for YOU! YOU ARE SO LOVED! Your life is valuable! He put air in your lungs, a brain in your head, and a beat in your heart. March to that beat! Stand strong! You have value and worth far beyond what you can even comprehend.

What I would say to the schools…

Stop turning a blind eye. Stop thinking that assembly talks on bullying will make a bully quit, or help the victim to come forward.

Stop assuming that “everybody gets picked on once in awhile” and its a normal stage in life.

Stop assuming that it will end when they get out of middle school.

Stop thinking these kids will grow out of it.

Teachers…Most days you “just want to teach”. I get it, because you have a job to do. Well let me clue you in. Your job is not JUST to give these kids an education. Your job, probably the reason you started teaching in the first place, is to help these kids grow into educated, well rounded people who will go out and make an impact on our world! You signed up for this! You wanted to make a difference! Are you doing that?

Are you looking up from grading papers and noticing the girl crying in the back of the room? Are you looking out for the kids who sit alone at lunch?

A friend of mine just lost his daughter to suicide because of a bully. Do you want this girl on your hands? You think it won’t happen in your school? Let’s make sure it doesn’t!