Bullying English College Now Final Ninja Draft

The Evil of Bullying

Bullying is a curse, not a gift. Every now and then, bullying has been one of the many reasons as to why innocent kids and teenagers would want to hurt themselves at the end of the day. Bullying can happen anywhere and everywhere. It could happen in school, at a friend’s house, at an after school program or even at home. It could even occur online where now a days, teenagers spent their time and energy. Bullying is somewhat like cancer. No matter how hard we try and fight to protect our loved ones from this dangerous, contagious disease, it will always find a way to get to us on where it will hurt us the most. Bullying has no boundaries and it has taken the happiness that took its victims hard work to find in their lives. Unfortunately, it could be said that bullying is one of the many roots that leads innocent victims that are trying to contribute to our society in becoming dangerous criminals that will try to destroy that very society that they once sought to be a part of. Up to this day, bullying has destroyed the very core of a person’s being. It doesn’t matter if it’s the person that’s doing the bullying or the person that’s getting bullied. They are both hurting because of bullying. In the past, bullying has conquered the lives of many innocent victims. Sadly, it is still happening in today’s society. The victims would either kill themselves as a result of them being unable to take it longer or that their family aren’t giving them the proper the support that they needed to get out of that situation in one piece. Also, there were some victims that have killed those that were making their lives into a living nightmare. These are just one out of many scenarios of how bullying overpowered its victims. However, don’t worry because for every problem, there is a solution.

In order for us to find the solution to bullying, we must first address what bullying really is. Bullying for the most part is aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. In simpler terms, it’s when an individual seeks to harm, intimidate or oppress someone or group of people that they deem inferior to them. By doing this, the prosecutor feels as if he or she has complete influence and power over their victims. The damage of bullying can be done in more ways than one may think it will. Yes, that’s right, there are different types of bullying. Besides physical bullying, there’s verbal bullying, social bullying and cyber bullying. Even though each of them have their own differences in how they harm their victims, the similarities between them is more or less the common effects that it has on its victims. Some of these common effects are depression, anxiety, health complaints and a decrease in academic achievement. Unfortunately enough, bullying is a double edge sword. Bullying has a long lasting effect on not only to its victims, but to its prosecutors as well. It brings out the worst in them. Bullying for the most part make its prosecutors become abusive when it comes to alcohol, they get into fights, drop out of school and become abusive towards their romantic partners. These are some of the common effects of bullying.

Physical bullying is using “one’s body and physical bodily acts to exert power over peers. Punching, kicking and other physical attacks are all types of physical bullying” (https://antibullyingsoftware.com/what-is-the-definition-of-physical-bullying/). Fortunately enough, physical bullying is way easier and a lot more noticeable to spot since it is damage being dealt to the victim’s physical body. It’s a lot more noticeable than verbal bullying. Well, the best way to prevent physical bullying is by having adults teaching their fellow young students, especially the ones in elementary and middle school on the differences between play fighting and bullying. According to “Face Bullying With Confidence: 8 Kidower Skills We Can Use Right Away”, it states that “To practice, show young people the difference between being passive, aggressive, and assertive in body language, tone of voice and choice of words” (https://www.kidpower.org/library/article/prevent-bullying/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8LTmBRBCEiwAbhh-6B-AIRsA1x8aF4-q5gkkXD_Sd8BRqHrhfffWgm4rLL8_b7mvWhIglRoCNtQQAvD_BwE). This shows that physical bullying alone can be prevented by one’s body language. The way how one portrays themselves in their own setting and environment is how that said individual will be able to protect themselves from physical bullying.

Verbal bullying or verbal abuse is when someone forcefully criticizes, insults, or denounces someone else. Characterized by underlying anger and hostility, it is a destructive form of communication intended to harm the self-concept of the other person and produce negative emotions. Verbal bullying is also known for being the most effective method for destroying its victim’s self esteem. “verbal bullying is more insidious and over long periods of time works to destroy a child’s self image and self esteem”(https://antibullyingsoftware.com/what-is-the-definition-of-verbal-bullying/). This demonstrates that verbal bullying is really one of the best ways to crack down an innocent child’s self esteem and overall confidence in what they can do in their daily lives. Verbal bullying is more of a threat to its victims than physical bullying to the point that it can “lead to depression, anxiety and other problems. In extreme cases, several well noted instances of teen suicide have been linked to prolonged verbal bullying of a classmate or peer” (https://antibullyingsoftware.com/what-is-the-definition-of-verbal-bullying/). Like I have previously said before, bullying, well to be more specific, verbal bullying is like cancer since it has a long lasting effect on deteriorating their victim’s health, whether it be their physical or mental health. Fortunately, there’s such a way to prevent verbal bullying from having a negative impact on other innocent kids lives. The parents would have to be carefully of their kids behavior to see if anything has changed and the same includes with their daily routines and activities. In addition, talk to head officials of the school that your child goes to see if there is anything happening to he or she and ask the head officials questions regarding it.

“Tell school administrators: It’s important school administrators are made aware of the situation so they can intervene and monitor the situation. Follow-up with your child and the school regularly to ensure the situation is dealt with.

1. Resist suggestions to simply ignore the bully: Ignoring the bully doesn’t work. It’s the responsibility of the student exhibiting bullying behaviors not to bully. The victim should not have to hide or endure the harassment.
2. Have your child participate in social activities (extracurricular activities, community groups and other supportive environments): It is important the victim not be bullied into isolation. Engaging in social activities and having close friends can help a child immensely – both in helping them develop prosocial behaviours and in offering some level of protection against the development of depression, anxiety, etc.” (https://antibullyingsoftware.com/what-is-the-definition-of-verbal-bullying/).  

In other words, the parents will need to have a high level of awareness to ensure their child’s safety from verbal bullying. Therefore, for every problem, there’s always a solution.

Social bullying is basically when two or more people are talking in a negative way about a specific individual and prevent them from joining any circle of friends by spreading false rumors about that said individual. In addition, it also includes exposing that said individual through pictures or secrets about them. According to “Types of bullying”, it states that “Social bullying which includes consistently excluding another person or sharing information or images that will have a harmful effect on the other person” (https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/WhatIsBullying/Pages/Types-of-bullying.aspx#anchor1). Although it might not look like it, social bullying is very similar to cyber bullying in the fact that social bullying can also take place in other social media websites so that the prosecutor can expose and destroy their victim’s image in even greater and more disastrous heights using technological means. According to “WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?”, it states that “Cyberbullying is using technological means to intimidate, spread rumors/slander, harass, threaten, or otherwise use digital media to abuse someone mentally, emotionally, or verbally” (http://digcitutah.com/cyberbullying/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8LTmBRBCEiwAbhh-6Fc3dK9_X47_nq3xJnXP8d24PCg9JcwUEF54HCD8MlldMosPsxxXdRoC2c8QAvD_BwE). Cyberbullying is arguably considered to be one of the dangerous or if not, the dangerous form of bullying because the prosecutor can harm its victims online at anytime, anywhere and at any place. Especially since if you post something online, it stays there forever. “Cyberbullying has the potential to cause intense harm to others because it can happen anytime, be carried around with a person anywhere, and spread quickly in ways that can never be undone” (http://digcitutah.com/cyberbullying/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8LTmBRBCEiwAbhh-6Fc3dK9_X47_nq3xJnXP8d24PCg9JcwUEF54HCD8MlldMosPsxxXdRoC2c8QAvD_BwE). It will damage its victims reputation. Don’t worry, there are 4 steps on how parents can deal with and possibly prevent their children from experiencing the horrors of social and cyberbullying. These 4 steps are:

• Assess the situation. “Who is involved? Where is it happening? What is taking place?” King says. “It’s important to get the big picture and be sure that what’s happening is in fact bullying.” Getting shoved in the lunch line can be upsetting, King explains, but it isn’t technically bullying unless the aggression is repeated. In Susan’s case, her mother took two days to get the facts straight before contacting her daughter’s school.
• Let your child respond first. Adolescents often want to handle the situation themselves, and parents should feel good about encouraging this. A bullying incident can be transformed into an occasion for empowerment. Younger kids may try blocking the bully on a social media platform (see more below). If you believe your child cannot resolve the situation themselves, then step in.
• Report the bully. In cases of in-person bullying at school, the standard approach is to raise the issue with a teacher or school counselor, then the principal. With cyberbullying, the perpetrator may not attend the same school or even be identifiable. But you can still take steps to prevent it from happening again.
  
  
  1. Don’t engage the cyberbully. No negotiating, threats or well-meaning “killing with kindness.” Don’t give them any attention.
  2. Screenshot the offensive content so you have a record for school officials or the authorities.
  3. Block the bully, if possible, so they can’t contact your child on that site again.
  4. Report the user to the social media platform so they can’t bully others from the same account.
• Seek counseling, if necessary. Counseling can help kids communicate better with their peers and reduce thoughts of suicide, according to King. Peck recommends that parents offer their child the opportunity to “speak with someone else.” The Campaign to Change Direction can connect parents with the right resources for a range of mental health issues, including bullying, depression and suicide prevention. Your insurance provider may cover counseling services.” (https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/cyberbullying.html?cid=ppc-GOOGLE-700000001035216-71700000036531246-58700004308953416-how%20to%20stop%20cyberbullying&s_dfa=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8LTmBRBCEiwAbhh-6EARmSUSPxafLkIWXxLYZalHyvwdq-fL_1AKeCxE5OTSto5Ky27exxoCKgMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds). Therefore, this is how one deals with both cyber and social bullying.

If you guys still don’t believe me on the dangers of what bullying brings to our society or on all the things that I have previously stated, then allow me to share a little story about my life. While I was still in the learning phase when it came down to the fundamentals and the basics of the English language, it was very difficult for me to grasp the things that were happening around my surroundings. It was very nerve wracking and scary since I was basically a scared cat, stuck in the tallest of trees as a result of being too frightened to come down. Even with all of this, I had to accept the fact that what was happening to me at the time, was reality. Lacking the ability to communicate with my classmates and teachers and asking them for help and guidance when I needed it the most was something that really terrified me to the core. Fortunately, at the end of the day, I didn’t let that stop me in my path to strive for greatness. My hot burning soul that was running deep inside my heart told me to keep on pushing. If I falter from my path now, I would never find my way in life again. My doubts and nightmares would turn into fruition and my family’s future would be no more. For example, when I was trying to read a children’s book in front of my class in the second grade, most of my classmates were making fun of my ability to read English properly because of my Spanish accent. During that moment, I felt destroyed because at the back of my mind, I thought that all of my efforts and hardships that I was going through at the time were going to end up in vain. This big colorful classroom that was supposed to bring joy to students, especially if they are newcomers did the exact opposite. It made me feel like a small ant being crushed in this big farm. All one would ever hear from the classroom is the laughter of my peers making fun of me. However, I didn’t let them get to me and I constantly told myself that I’m not alone in this. My family is by my side and they will always be there for me. My heart is no longer blue but it isn’t red either. It’s a mixture of both. The harsh experiences that I underwent was something that I couldn’t have overcome if it wasn’t for my family. The blueness and redness in my heart signifies the person that I am today. Two colors that were once separate are now together. While my heart was in pieces and torn apart as a result of what was happening to me, I was able to pick myself up with not just the aid of my family but also with the little things that I was able to accomplish. Giving time, my heart was whole again and our path was shining brightly upon us. Our security is a symbol of our reassurance in life. Despite what my family and I have been through, we never lost confidence in the things that we could accomplish in the near future, giving the fact that we didn’t lose hope. Before, I was an individual that was lost with no way out. Time passed by and I changed into a person that doesn’t let anything and anyone get in their way. My family and I had nothing and no one but each other. On the contrary, it was because we had each other that our unity would prove to be our strength and bond. My family, especially my mother, turned out to be one of my biggest motivating factors in my life that keeps me going. I didn’t let my situation that was having a negative impact on me, determine my success and future. The whole experience proved to be a vital turning point in my life because it led me to where I am now.