Just a Few Bumps in the Road: Surviving Bullying

[blackkosmosofthesoul]

[dandykelsey]

Unfortunately, I made this phone call many times in middle/high school. Some days the bullying was unbearable, but I knew my mom/family would always be there to support me. I'd go home, quite upset... but a hug from my mom helped ease most of my pain. 

Nobody should feel this way... I loved school, I didn't enjoy missing class and making up work wasn't easy. If bullying makes you feel unsafe in your school, to the point where you need to leave make sure it is brought to the attention of your administration. If they can't help you find someone that will. Bullying in schools should not be tolerated and no student should feel unsafe within these thresholds. 

[itscalledbullying-deactivated20]

My names Savannah and we do this thing in my school called the Passion Project. Its a year long project where you have to write a ten page paper and put together a presentation. My online presentation will be done through my Tumblr blog. My topic is bullying, specifically in school bullying. You...

[dandykelsey]

Hello Savannah, 

First off... WELCOME TO TUMBLR! I'm actually quite new to this myself. I am a freshman in college and my english class was given the assignment to create a Tumblr account addressing a social issue. Like you, I chose the topic of bullying as it is an issue which has touched my life. I feel as though spreading awareness, positivity towards survival, and sharing the importance of prevention is of utmost importance and is the primary goal of my blog. While the assignment was only a month long and is no longer being taken into account I have decided to continue my blog. 

I look forward to your posts.  It's so exciting to see another student share their passion for this issue which so greatly impacts society, especially within our schools.

Best of luck to you and your blog, and thanks again for your support! 

Best,

...Kelsey...

[risingfrommyashes-deactivated20]

I thought this was pretty incredible you guys.

[dandykelsey]

I found this video really great as it presents how different people react when they see someone being bullied... Will you be the one who sits there or just walks away when you see someone being bullied? Or will you be the one who stands up, steps in, says something, and puts an end to it? Don't be a bystander, be the one who puts a STOP to bullying, be the bigger and better person. Bullying happens every day, stop it when you can. Together we can stop bullying in America.

[dandykelsey]

Generative Writing #25: Short Story

Little off topic:

In class we did a group writing activity which is one of my favorites... Everyone has a piece of paper and writes one sentence which can be about anything. After writing a sentence you pass the paper to your left and the next person writes a sentence in relation to the last one. Each time you fold over the prior sentence so that the next person can only read what you wrote.... you continue this simple, fun process about 10 times. THEN, we get to read the stories which is the most entreating part. 

Here's one of the stories we made last month:

Once upon a time there was a mishappen scarecrow..

All of the other scarecrows made fun of the mishappen scarecrow...

He was really offended and started to cry...

His friends tried to comfort him but he kept crying...

It appeared he would never stop crying...

He felt as if his whole world was crumbling in around him, nothing would ever be the same...

He thought about giving up, but he didn't.

While the story is short and may appear childish in forms of content and sentence structure I think this little story is a work of art. It presents a powerful message which encourages hope and strength... The scarecrow was depressed and didn't feel like life was worth living but he didn't give up and that takes a great deal of strength. 

[brutereason]

With bullying, you’re facing basically the same problem you have when it comes to rape culture. Everyone flaps their gums about how bad rape is, but when the rubber hits the road, a whole bunch of people side with rapists against rape victims. With this incident, you even see the same logic that rape and domestic violence victims often hear, that speaking out against abuse somehow deprives their assailant of his privacy. Beyond that, the problem with bullying is that adults look the other way for exactly the same reasons kids do: They don’t like the victim, they find the whole process amusing or even what the victim deserves, they think the victim is whiny, etc. As long as adults feel this way, bullies will feel free to do their thing, safe in the knowledge that the adults are on their side. To fix bullying, we need to shift some of the efforts away from sending a “message” to kids that bullying is bad and start really tackling the culture of the adults who tolerate or even encourage it. The Way To Fight Bullies Is To Fight Adults Who Support Them | The Raw Story (via brute reason)

I had previously viewed adults as the instigators/primary influence on bullying among youth prior to reading this post; however, I connected to this post as it related to a personal experience which gave me a new perspective on just how pressing and impacting the attitudes of adults are on the issue of bullying.

I was told by my vice-principal in high school that I needed to toughen up and stand up for myself, when I went to report the bullying I had been facing at school. I was looking for guidance and closure to my issue, I wasn't one to tattletale but I would've been pleased if my bullies had gotten punished by the administration. Unfortunately, nothing was really done and as mentioned before I was told to buck up and defend myself. To contribute to this already unfair situation, my vice principal had a child in my grade who's friends just so happened to be my bullies. They were good kids in his eyes, and I was just the baby for not knowing how to stick up for myself. I'm not saying my vice-principal didn't like me as a person but I can say he favored his child's friends who grew up under his wing, over a girl like me who didn't even grow up in the town. I don't think he felt I deserved to be bullied, but he also didn't view the bullying which I endured as a "real" problem in his school. 

See the main issue was that my bullies were viewed highly by my vice-principal, who had the second most authority in the school; therefore, my bullies knew that they wouldn't get in trouble and they felt safe bullying me as they knew somebody of high power in administration would have their back and at least delete their record if any action were to be taken against them. 

Basically, my vice principal whether he realized it at the time or not had been encouraging the bullying which I had faced throughout my entire high school career. 

"Tackling the culture of the adults who tolerate or even encourage" bullying is key in fixing the problem... I hope someday this will be addressed within the school system and among all adults, so others will not have to go through what I endured. I deserved support and the person who I should've been able to confide in only made the situation worse... consider that. 

[dandykelsey]

What I have posted thus far on my blog are facts and statistics, motivational quotes, speeches and videos, and posts which I felt related to my topic of awareness, prevention and survival. While I have acknowledged in brief some of my personal bullying experiences I haven't gone to share the true stories of other children who have been/are victims of bullying. 

The movie Bully which came out in 2011, follows the lives of five victims of bullying. It is a heart wrenching but truthful film which shows the devastating impact bullying has on students daily in the United States.

I attached the trailer for you to get an idea of what the movie is about, but it really is worth watching the whole thing as it presents the major issue of bullying as a whole. It does not leave out the unfortunate details and outcomes which some would rather not hear. It presents the whole story of victims, their families, friends, schools and communities and how much of an impact bullying has on them. 

It is a heartbreaking film, but the issue of bullying is not to be shoved under the carpet as it is destroying lives daily. 

[dandykelsey]

The end is almost near, but this is not goodbye...

To my fellow classmates and Tumblr friends:

Tomorrow is the last day of the Tumblr assignment, but honestly I don't consider it the end. I never thought I'd enjoy Tumblr but to my surprise it has really sparked my interest and I plan to maintain this blog to the best of my ability, time permitting of course as school and work tends to keep me from my online social life. :(

This assignment forced me to step outside my comfort zone and engage with a social issue which has directly affected my life, publicly. I have shared experiences on here which I don't normally share, not even to some of my closest friends. This blog has allowed me to approach and reflect on my past with strength. My goal of this blog is to promote motivation for healthy bullying survival, as well as promote and share bullying awareness and prevention techniques.

I thank you for your time, attention and future support!

Best,

...Kelsey...

[umasstumbling]

Your students are literally writing acrostic poems. And they're terrible. Do you know who writes acrostic poems? Second graders. Use all the academic vocabulary about pedagogy and rhetoric you want, but there is no way you can justify the fact that your students are spelling their names vertically and adding adjectives. That is not college writing.

[anxietyproject2014]

Do you know the purpose of Tumblr?

Egos can get in the way of learning. Here is another side:

All together as a class, we blog about social issues;

Like some who see this as a useless college assessment, you forget what the definition of blogging is.

Welcome to our English class, where we learn from experience rather than from pure instruction

In reality, this is what we, as college student, will face in the future.

Thank you for engaging with us as we develop as writers – even helping me fulfill a requirement for this assignment.

Happily, #engl writ 112 will continue to post about what we want.

Isn’t this the point of Tumblr?

To allow people to share ideas? 

[dandykelsey]

WAY TO GO DOVERTHERAINBOW!!! 

I love this and our class. 

We won't stop, and we can't stop... so don't try, ANONYMOUS.

[dandykelsey]

PRESIDENT OBAMA & THE FIRST LADY: CONFERENCE ON BULLYING PREVENTION

15 minutes may seem like a long time to someone who finds the topic of bullying uninteresting or views it as an issue which does not directly affect their lives, but the truth of the matter is this: it is a pressing issue, and it does affect you in one way or the other. Even as a student who may or may not be bullied you must consider the lives of others and even the future for your children some day. No parent wants to see their child be bullied and prevention/elimination of bullying cannot not happen over night, so pay attention and open your eyes to this issue. It's not just your life is the lives of everyone else and you can help be the change. 

"Bullying isn't a problem that makes headlines everyday, but everyday it touches the lives of young people ALL across this country." This President Barack Obama wholeheartedly pronounced during his speech in the White House on March 10, 2011. The goal of this conference was "to dispel the myth that bullying is just a harmless rite of passage or an inevitable part of growing up." 

Listen to your President: Don't "turn your blind eye on the problem."

Watch this speech and come together to help prevent bullying today, tomorrow and the many years to come. 

(All quotes are from Obama said in this speech)

[burning-kokoro-blog]

[dandykelsey]

- Adolescent girls are just as likely, if not more likely than boys to experience cyberbullying (as a victim and offender) (Floros et al., 2013; Kowalski et al., 2008; Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Schneider et al., 2012)

- Cyberbullying is related to low self-esteem, suicidal ideation, anger, frustration, and a variety of other emotional and psychological problems (Brighi et al., 2012; Hinduja & Patchin, 2010; Kowalski & Limber, 2013; Patchin & Hinduja, 2010; Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011)

- Cyberbullying is related to other issues in the ‘real world’ including school problems, anti-social behavior, substance use, and delinquency (Hinduja & Patchin, 2007; Hinduja & Patchin, 2008; Kowalski & Limber, 2013)

- Traditional bullying is still more common than cyberbullying (Lenhart, 2007; Smith et al., 2008; Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011)

- Traditional bullying and cyberbullying are closely related: those who are bullied at school are bullied online and those who bully at school bully online (Hinduja & Patchin, 2009; Kowalski & Limber, 2013; Ybarra, Diener-West, & Leaf, 2007).

http://cyberbullying.us/research/facts/

As if the bullying at school/in person wasn't enough now with technology bullying can happen 24/7 without others noticing. It is so much easier to say something mean and scarring behind the screen which is why cyber-bullying is so apparent in society today. 

I originally wasn't going to touch on the issue of Cyber-bullying but I think it is important to address and gain another perspective on bullying. As mentioned above regular bullying is still more common than Cyber-bullying; however, it is a trend on the rise that is just as dangerous, scarring, and abusive as traditional bullying. 

I can relate and agree with the fact that "those who are bullied at school are bullied online and those who bully at school bully online," as I was bullied in school and online by the same people. While they had more to say behind the computer screen I was verbally attacked at school as well. Due to their ability to communicate and intimidate me 24/7 via Facebook, text, email etc. I was often scared to go to school. 

Nobody should feel this way... So watch your words and your actions, be the bigger and better person and don't bully, behind a screen or in person. 

[the-more-u-know]

Reduce Stress in your life

Stress can affect your body and health, unless you learn to manage it.  Are you stress out at work? Stop using those pills that make you addicted. Foods can calm you down.

What you eat can have a profound effect on how you feel and can help reduce the risk of stress and promoting  vitality and energy. 

Here are 10 foods that will make your life happy, a lot easier, with minimum stress and keep you healthy:

 Oatmeal  Carbs help you produce serotonin, a calming hormone that helps fight anxiety’s negative effects-which is probably why many of us crave them when we’re stressed. “When you eat a carbohydrate, your body sends an amino acid called tryptophan into the brain to trigger the manufacture of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tranquil and better able to cope,” says Wurtman.   Avocado Avocados will do wonders for your stress levels by lowering blood pressure with their tag team of nutrients, potassium and monounsaturated fats. Half an avocado a day should do the trick; slice it and add to a green salad,or mash it up to make instant guacamole and eat it with baked corn tortillas. Walnuts A handful is all you need to tame stress. Walnuts contain fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids,all of which have been linked to lower blood pressure in studies. Dark Chocolate Dark Chocolate that contains 80% cocoa. Eating dark chocolate lowered stress level hormones by reducing cortisol and catecholamines both stress loving hormones. Spinach and Broccoli Studies show that magnesium, and vitamin B which you’ll find in  spinach or in broccoli improves your body’s response to stress.   Water  Sipping stress away.Drink water when you wake up 2 glasses, 30 minutes before your meal 1 glass , before taking a shower 1 glass, before going to bed 1 glass.   Wine  ”A glass of wine acts as a central nervous system depressant;it initially relaxes us and lowers blood pressure,” says Kleiner.   Milk  “The protein in milk, has been shown to decrease anxiety and frustration,”says Susan Kleiner, Ph.D.A glass of warm milk really is calming. Every night before going to bed have a cup of warm milk. Orange and Parsley When your boss gives you hard time just start drinking fresh orange juice with fresh parsley.The secret anti stress ingredient in parsley and orange is Vitamin C,which can lower the blood pressure and also brought down the stressful cortisol levels back to normal. Blueberries  Their antioxidants counteract the effects of stress hormones like cortisol on your body. Light and easy mealsEat light like salads, steam vegetables, grill chicken or fish. Fish it is great for stress. Salmon: Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids-abundant in fish like salmon-can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels. Any pasta , potatoes or rice for evening meals are good too. Avoid big portions. Drink water, herbal teas and fresh fruit juices. Fresh fruits, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, walnuts are also great anti-stress foods. Avoid these nutritional downers if you want to stay in good spirit: doughnuts, bacon, big portions, excess caffeine and alcohol. [Source] [More Health Infographics Here]

[ntrikoz]

Reduce your stress by eating! :D (especially chocolate…I really enjoy that being on the list…an excuse to eat chocolate is always good :) 

I was personally really surprized that chocolate reduces stress by reducing “cortisol and catecholamines both stress loving hormones”. I didn’t

[dandykelsey]

Bullying and stress come hand in hand that's why I found this post appropriate to reblog. There are many different ways you can cope with stress, I found this post compelling as it explores the affects of food on stress levels. While I'm not sure just how effective eating particular foods would've been in helping my stress levels due to excessive bullying I definitely wouldn't shoot this idea down in preventing future stress. Who knew eating could ACTUALLY be considered therapeutic dependent on what foods you chose to consume!

[justkeepcalmandcarion-deactivat]

For being such a peppy and catchy song, “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter is a song is just about what the title claims: a bad day. However, just because you have a bad day DOES NOT mean everyday will be bad. Listening to the catchy tune, even though the lyrics are somewhat sad, can help improve your mood. Positive moods may equal less anxiety.

[dandykelsey]

So you had a Bad Day? Put on some music, turn it up and SING! Do whatever makes you feel good. This post is great as it can relate to everyone... We've all had a bad day and this song has always been one to help cure it. This connects to bullying, as victims, even bullies all have bad days and a song can sometimes help turn it around even if it's a little bit. It at least helped me during some of my rough days.

[dandykelsey]

France put out this anti-bullying ad last year which I find extremely powerful. It shows playground bullying in the workplace... I believe by doing so it presents to adults the bullying which children endure day to day but in a way that relates to their daily life. The message flashed at the end really leaves you thinking and speechless... "A day at work does not look like this. And a day at school?" 

PLEASE WATCH THIS... IT HAS A LOT OF MEANING.

[weareempowered]

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

The poster reads:

I was NEVER fast enough, smart enough, skinny enough or good enough to be considered your daughter… TODAY I realize your opinion doesn’t matter and that I am VALUABLE

Bullied? Share your story: weareempowered.net

[dandykelsey]

Bullying happens EVERYWHERE, even at HOME where a person should feel safe and comfortable. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I didn't have a supportive caring family. 

[dandykelsey]

Blue Shirt Day™ - World Day of Bullying Prevention

STOMP OUT BULLYING, the nation's leading organization for bullying prevention and awareness is promoting their annual national Blue Shirt Day™ on Monday October 6th! Promote prevention and awareness and stand up for a cause which affects millions on the daily. What's interesting to me is that in 2011/2012 there seemed to be so many Anti-Bullying events/campaigns, then there seemed to be less over the past couple years. Finding this event gave me hope that people are still seeing bullying as an issue and are taking measures to increase awareness and prevention! 

You can sign up your school, community, or business TODAY using the link below! 

http://www.stompoutbullying.org/index.php/campaigns/want-participate-blue-shirt-day-world-day-bullying-prevention/

[dandykelsey]

I made this meme on memegenerator.com I imagined a victim who is fed up of being bullied and has the ability to view their bullies as a joke.. While they are laughing at him, he is laughing at them. While bullying isn’t something to be joked about, if you turn around a negative situation and put a smile on your face laughing is a good way to do it. So laugh it off, it’ll make you feel better. YOU are not the joke, THEY are.

[tothisdayproject]

To This Day Project

[dandykelsey]

This gave me chills... Take the time to watch this, and really listen. It's so beautifully well done and magical. It speaks the truth about bullying and it artistically displays a powerful message.