The last Wednesday of February is now officially Anti-Bullying Day (or Pink Shirt Day). As a child who was bullied from grade 7-12 I’m happy to hear that this subject is finally being taken seriously. Because when I was bullied in school it was simply accepted as just the way things are. Deal with it. And so I did.
Reflecting back on those years, how I was bullied by other students and how I dealt with it, I realized that the coping strategies that I resultantly developed has greatly affected my life and my behaviour as an adult.
Every kid who’s been bullied knows their number one strategy is to keep a low profile. If the bullies can’t see you then they can’t terrorize you. So I didn’t participate in very many extra-curricular activities at school. I went home for lunch everyday, and tended to find the quietest corner in the building and stuck my head in a book. I spent a lot of time alone. I isolated myself. I became very independent and self-sufficient as well.
Although at the time I suffered emotionally from their cruelty, these circumstances cultivated some valuable characteristic traits that as an adult I am very glad to possess. I am very observant, resourceful, independent, self-sufficient and compassionate then most of the other people I went to school with (I’ve met several of my old classmates years after we finished high school).
Here are a couple examples of how bullying has affected my adult life to help clarify my point:
1. I travel alone. And I have no qualms about that. Most people would never consider backpacking Europe, going camping or taking a beach vacation by themselves. If they couldn’t get their spouse or their friends to go with them they’ll just stay home. I never let opportunities pass me by. If no one is able to go with me I won’t miss the big event. Others call me strange, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in my mind.
2. I work as an independent escort. This type of work is not for everyone because of the tendency to strain personal relationships. But since I don’t have many friends (just a few real ones I suppose) its not hard to keep this big secret. I am quite comfortable being isolated and I’m great at keeping a low profile in society. Being bullied as a child has given me skills to be an excellent escort ironically.
Looking back on it all, and speaking from personal experience, if I could offer any advice for those being bullied I would tell them: try to find some way to get through grade school. Then you can get away from all those sad nasty creatures once and for all. Wether its university, work or travel that you chose to do after grade 12 you can do it away from them. It gets better.
And I truly believe that I’m a much more beautiful soul than any of those bullies are.
No comments:
Post a Comment