Monday, October 24, 2011

Beat Down Bullying TODAY!

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

-- Eleanor Roosevelt


Today, I’m proud to link up with bloggers Jillian and Jessie to take a stand against the bullying epidemic that has damaged and destroyed far too many children's lives here in the U.S. and around the world.

Though I did face instances of teasing and bullying when I was in school, I was “lucky” that it was in no way as severe as what so many kids endure today. Even so, as I shared in my previous post announcing this movement, being teased about everything from having a high voice to suffering from incurable acne to not being able to afford the designer clothes the popular girls wore did affect me over time, making me afraid to speak up in class, meet new people and be the center of attention. Still, as hard as it may have been back then, things have gotten so much better since.

Now, I want kids to know that as hopeless as life may feel at times, the future really is worth believing in and waiting for. Though I didn’t truly enjoy middle school or high school, I went on to have a great time in college. I regained my confidence and, 10 years later, am proud to have been successful in reaching many of my career goals, building strong friendships and falling in love with the kindest and most sincere man I could ever have hoped to meet. 

If someone had shown me a snapshot during those tough years of what my life would be like today, I honestly would never have believed them. I may have skipped my 10-year high school reunion this summer and will never be able to look back on those days with especially fond memories, but my life today more than makes up for it, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Pleas share your story, and help us take a stand TODAY! 

13 comments:

  1. High school was a lamesauce party for me the whole time. I was "weird." And then I moved to Nebraska at 14, right in time to start High School in a strange state with no one I knew from Adam.
    It was a small town; everyone had enough friends so I was an unwanted addition. I ate in the bathroom alone or skipped lunch to stay in the library reading in a corner. People wouldn't talk to me, just about me. I eventually joined some other outsiders in my advanced Math class and joined Mathletes (I know, so helpful to my acceptance). I neither fit in nor stuck out so I just galloped around with that club and forced people to be in band with me. It was a large band... I didn't make a noticeable difference.
    I was just so black-sheeped there... never accepted. Then I started modeling my senior year, tried to keep it a secret, and then people found out. It got around, I was more hated and I got beat up by some jealous snot at the ACT test... glam, I know.
    So I had to leave my High School I started when I moved my SENIOR YEAR to finish in a school where I was yet again the new kid and only had 8 months to finish. Needless to say I was a short-termer worth no emotional attachment and was left to more solitude.
    I wish someone had told me what life would be like now, too. It's like I prepaid my Karma points in reverse to have an awesome life...

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  2. thanks so much for helping us with this Heather!!!

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  3. THANK YOU!!! This cause needs to be spread - thank you!

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  4. YAY! You go, girl! I said it before and I'll say it again: this is a cause worth fighting for!!!

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  5. It is very true how much it would help if we could have a snapshot of our lives and that we will get through the rough times in life. Hopefully by people supporting the beat down bullying we can show people who are getting bullied that there is a future for them and things do get better.

    Great Blog!!!!

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  6. this is great. i'm so glad there is awareness and a community that will not tolerate bullying.

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  7. This is a great cause! Thanks for helping to raise awareness - I am with you about the snapshot. If someone told my insecure, elementary-school self that got picked on all the time that I would be where I am today, I would not have believed it. I used to hate going to school, was constantly picked on for being "smart" and was always sick. Thankfully, things turned around by the time I got to junior high, but it still amazes me how even small children can be bullies!

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  8. I could kick myself for not linking to this today, and totally meant to. I've told my story before about my bullying (to this day!) and it pains my heart for any kid to gomthrough that.

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  9. Ps, thanks for your amazing comment on mrs pancake's adorable blog. I totally teared up reading it, and your words will mean more than you will ever know.

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  10. What a great cause and thank you for sharing!

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  11. Like you I got minorly teased but I was lucky in that it was never anything too severe. It's so sad to see what ti can do to kids though, and when you're young it's often hard to think about how things will be better long-term...
    www.saysskippy.blogspot.com

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  12. Like you I got minorly teased but I was lucky in that it was never anything too severe. It's so sad to see what ti can do to kids though, and when you're young it's often hard to think about how things will be better long-term...
    www.saysskippy.blogspot.com

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  13. Its so scary how cruel kids can be, makes me scared for my own children and how they will fare once they are in school. This topic is becoming such a huge issue and its so scary!

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