What I Wish I Knew

What I Wish I Knew:

You are not alone.

You have your self.

What I Wish I Knew:

Not everyone is happy with who they are,

They will take it out on you.

What I Wish I Knew:

Don’t let them knock you down.

Keep your head up.

I am fourteen years-old.

Boys are vicious.

I am tormented

I am getting impatient.

What I Wish I Knew:

Use their words as motivation.

Head for the light at the end of the tunnel and don’t look back.

What I Wish I Knew:

Jennifer Lawrence got bullied.

Jennifer Lawrence obviously won that battle.

What I Wish I Knew:

They don’t have a soul.

Don’t let them take yours.

Middle school was an anxiety-ridden prison cell for me. I remember walking home one time, and a group of boys ran out like a stampede and threw me against the ground. It was covered in snow. I walked home in wet clothes that day, feeling numb. From the cold or from exhaustion, I’m not quite sure.

I wish I could go back-in-time and revisit myself that day. I wish I could give myself a hug, and tell myself that this won’t last forever. Life is tough, but so are you.

The world doesn’t have to be a cold place. You might feel alone, like you’re the only one going through this, but unfortunately, that is far from the truth. Bullying has no preference. It will pick anyone; it is desperate and insecure. Hearing other people share their stories shows me that we’re in this together.

Activist, Demi Lovato opened up about her experience with bullying. She shares a powerful message, “The last decade has taught me a lifetime of lessons. I’ve learned that secrets make you sick, I’m learning how to be a voice and not a victim. I’ve learned that sex is natural. I’ve learned that love is necessary, heartbreak is unavoidable, and loneliness is brutal. I’ve learned that the key to being happy is to tell your truth and be OK without all the answers.”

I had no choice but to learn to ‘tell my truth’ and to love myself so hard that other people’s opinions eventually didn’t matter. And looking back, I now agree with Paulo Coelho more than ever, “How people treat other people is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.” It’s hard not to take things personally but Demi’s suggestion, “be a voice and not a victim” should help you realize millions of people are fighting this battle. Stand up for yourself, and stand up for each other. Together, we can overcome bullying. 

And a message to all the bullies out there – think about what you say and how you say it. Words can never be taken back. Try to spread love and not hate. And remember to treat others the way ALL HUMAN BEINGS deserve to be treated.

Please visit this website for more information on bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov/media/facts/index.html