The phenomenon of bullying is age old. When we think of the word “bullying,” often, the classic image of the schoolyard altercation comes to mind. Such as a big kid shaking a smaller one for his lunch money, pushing him around during recess, or the girl that gets teased for her clothes. People do not understand how extreme bullying can get. Bullying is not just teasing and name-calling. It can escalate to physical harassment, beatings, and even death threats. Bullying can cause a child to disengage in school. They may be scared to ride the bus, use the restroom, or even walk through the hallways. Children can experience great amounts of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even physical illness as a result of being bullied. In some cases, suicide becomes an alternative for these children. Millions of children across the world are bullied every day. In fact, one in four kids are bullied every day. Bullying in the world today is at an all-time high.
When children turn 18 and leave school, their experiences are not left behind them, but rather carried with them and affecting many aspects of their life. When a child is routinely bullied, it has long lasting consequences that can change a person’s life forever. Later in life, a victim may be more susceptible to depression and migraine headaches. They are more likely to have a lack of patience, a poor self-image and a loss of self-confidence, which can, in turn, create substantial issues in his or her personal life. They have a tendency to encounter family and relationship issues as well as substance abuse problems and other self-destructive behaviors. Unplanned pregnancies, abusive relationships, and self-image issues such as anorexia or bulimia are believed to be common pathways of women who have been a consistent target of bullying.
I believe everyone has been a target of bullying at some point in his or her life. I had never had a problem with being bullied before, however, by sophomore...