Hey Steemians!
I always wanted to write something about bullying but my busy schedule due to work doesn't allow me to. I have written a few stories on a notepad but it isn't finished yet so I decided to make this a series and I'll try to write as much as possible. Please remember that this post was not made in order to gain pity nor attention. It was based on actual experiences either by me or by other people I know, although I have changed the names for a little privacy.
Here's the first part.
Bullying is not new, we all know what that means and that it can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, and gender. It happened before we were born and it is still a rampant issue in the society. But when does bullying exactly start? Bullying can start at the earliest age possible. It can happen between siblings, cousins and neighbors. Next, it happens at school - one big kid starts to bug the tiny one and tries to take his lunch money. In high school, they can do more awful things on a lot of platforms. Vandalism on the comfort room alone is bullying. Posting on social media, spreading rumors, sending hate texts, sneaking lewd photos or videos. It doesn't even end there! It also happens in the workplace. Corporate bullying is nothing new to all of us. I am not sure on how are we able to end such epidemic, but one thing I am sure of, is that we can start with ourselves.
image source: Google
Being raised in a Christian family, I was taught not to hurt others even if they have already hurt me. I was taught not to throw bread if a rock was thrown at me. Treat rudeness with kindness. I tried to follow that teaching, I really did. Some people will definitely treat you well, but we can't take people with severe attitude problem off the picture. Growing up, I realized that I have experienced bullying since I was little. My mother is a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or also known as the Mormons. Every Sunday whenever we go to church, we always attend Sunday school classes in which we were divided by age group. There's Primary for the kids, Youth for the teenagers, Single or Young Adults when we reach the age of 18, the Relief Society which is mostly composed of married women and above. Now, as a heads up, this post is not to defame the religion in anyway but I am just sharing my experience.
Moving on... I was in elementary at that time, so I was assigned to go with the Primary class. We sang children's songs and our teacher taught us about the scriptures. I first experienced bullying when Dane, a boy that was 2 or 3 years older than me was sitting at the back just one kid away from me, threw a paper and landed straight on my head. I looked at him, thinking that maybe it was an accident and he was just playing with the paper. I can't really say that I enjoyed the class that much - of course I was bored - so I tried to understand him and kept quiet. Later on, another paper flew and hit my head. This time, harder. I looked at him and he kept making funny (stupid) faces. I ignored him for the second time. It didn't end there though. When our teacher went out to get some books, he stood up and hit my head. Hard. I didn't understand his motives why he had to hit me. I looked at him, straight in the eye and he called me a pig. Yes, a pig. I stood up and tried to transfer seats but what he did was worse. He even sat beside me. Our teacher came back and resumed her lecture. Dane, now extremely bored, started to kick me on my leg. Me, being boyish and thought that crying over something so small won't make you brave enough, endured the pain and kept quiet. He tried pulling my hair this time. Thankfully, the bell rang which was a sign for us to go and gather together at the sacrament hall. Finally it was over. Or so I thought.
Thanks for reading the first part of my Bullying series! I hope you'll read through my second part as well. I will be posting it soon and I will be updating as often as my busy schedule allows me to do.