We have all dealt with bullies at some point in our lives and a lot of us still deal with them to this very day. I don’t think there’s any specific definition for bullies because they come in all shapes and forms. They’re the mean girls who make fun of you. They’re the ones who take your lunch money. They’re emotional and sometimes physically abusive. They appear, disappear and reappear again. Another word that I think that is associated with bully is the word or term “hater.” Taylor Swift most famously uses it in her song “Shake It Off.” It’s a term used in pop culture when people are hating on other people. Why are bullies and why do they do such mean things? Nobody knows for sure because they may have insecurities of their own or they just hate other people just because.
Whatever the reason is behind the bullying, we won’t know for sure. I’ve dealt with bullies myself. I got teased a lot because I was the “smart” girl. I got good grades and mostly stayed out of trouble. I was also teased for the way I looked. I always had curly hair and glasses. People used to call me names like Shaggy (from Scooby Doo) and Napoleon (in terms of the movie “Napoleon Dynamite” which was popular when I was in school). I know people meant that to be funny, but it still all hurt a lot. I tried to speak up but not a lot of people heard me. I was (and I still am) the quiet and shy girl. You may think to yourself that doesn’t sound too bad, what I dealt with, and that’s true. I’m sure a lot of other people had it a lot worse than I did.
Some people might say that there’s nothing to be done to stop bullying. That may be true in some cases, but there’s almost always something to do about it in most cases. Sometimes it’s just as simple as speaking up. Sometimes it’s better saying something (to the bully or to a teacher or to a boss) than saying nothing at all. Demi talks about this in her book. I wish a lot more people spoke up about bullying incidents when I was in school (and I wish I did it more myself). It’s never too late. Bullies are weak and try to put you down to make them feel better about themselves. Don’t give them that power to do that.
Believe it or not, bullying is hurtful. As much as I’ve dealt with it in school, I’ve also dealt with it in the real world and in the theatre world. There are always people who think they’re better than you. They think they can push you around and get away with things, but don’t let them think that. Speak up for yourself and be an advocate. You should be saying enough is enough. On that thought, I’m sharing a poem in the hopes we can show those bullies and haters who’s boss. In the end, we should try to better than those bullies. You’re you (as Demi says). People either hate you or love you for who you are. So be you and be better than those who try to bring you down.
You’re You
Words are thrown at you like weapons.
They don’t always feel so pleasant.
They feel like deep cuts to the soul.
They can put you in a black hole.
You say nothing in the hopes that
It all goes away. You need to shut
It all out. They shouldn’t affect you.
You are meant to shine through
Everything and rise on top.
They will all just drop
And fade away. They aren’t going
Anywhere. You’re showing
Them you’re going places.
All of those faces
And bullies project their insecurities
Onto you. They are hypocrisies
And should swallow their own words
When you are flying towards
Something beyond what they thought.
Freedom and success is what you sought.
Don’t let those people put you in retreat.
Make your own heartbeat.
Make them realize you’re courageous.
You’re moving on up to achieve greatness.