Parallel Experiences & "Bullet Proof" Conclusions
Almost every one has been bullied for something. Rumors start and get around school and the internet faster than ever. A person can be bullied for anything now a days, dressing a certain way, having a different hair color, posting a picture on the internet (provocative or not), these are all examples of bullying.
Elizabeth.Unfortunately the form of bullying that hits the most young women in todays society is BODY SHAMING. They see girls and boys who are blessed with a full figure or a tiny waist, And make fun of them for something they cannot help. Its genetic material and this bullying happens for something that they cannot control. I have had an experience with bulling. I am very shy and quiet, so people feel the need to walk all over me sometimes. Plus I have always been on the tiny side, short and skinny. People tended to take one look at me and accuse me of doing things that had never even crossed my mind. I was asked if I was anorexic or bulimic. Not even knowing what these words meant. I went to look them up and realized what people truly thought of me. It made me very self conscious to know that people thought I had an eating disorder. They would be shocked when I would eat a whole meal in front of them or have a certain look of satisfaction when I would feel too full to finish a piece of pizza. I would go home and look at the reflection in the mirror. Do I really look like a twig? That was my experience. I feel like you live with bullies your whole life, but you just cannot get away from them. When you are constantly hearing these negative affirmations about your body from other people, you cannot help but actually start to believe them to be true as well. The only cure for this is “Self Love”. Once you learn how to love your self and become confident in who you are you can build up a steal wall so they cannot get back in. |
Sarah.My experiences with bulling have made me stronger. It was a character building moment for me and it is a battle I still am fighting five years later. It started my first year of junior high. I have always been painfully shy, even around my immediate family. I don’t like confrontation and I didn't like feeling like I didn’t belong. I decided that I should make new friends so I branched out looking for a new place to belong. Looking back on it, when it came to making friends all I was looking for and truly wanted was affirmation that I was worthy enough. I found myself in the “popular” crowd and felt accepted by these girls so I let my guard down. I guess my shyness was apparent, no matter how much I tried to hide it. They turned on me at the end of eighth grade and my little bubble was popped. They treated me like trash, rumors were spread around school and I suddenly found myself being called a “whore” and a “slut”. And I started to believe them.
After my parents let me have a fresh start at a new school. I started my freshman year of high school with a clean slate, I had a new found confidence. But once I started to come out of my shell, the talking started up again. The rumors from my old school somehow penetrated my new “safe place” and it was suddenly compromised. I found a group of people that I could trust with my life and started to build up my walls. I have found distractions from these horrible untrue things. I know that I am strong, I know that I am not who or what these people who barely know me say I am. And I will be honest, every now and then my wall crumbles a little. The words leak in from the outside and they still hurt. But the wounds left by the words before have healed and left scar tissue, which is stronger and take a lot more effort to get through. |
Definitions:
Bullet proofing:
Verb
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Bully Proofing:
Verb
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Steps to Bullet Proofing Yourself
The first steps of how to deal with bullying start with you and your desire to acquire a better, safer, healthier, and happier life.
- Talk about it. When you bring attention to the issue, wether it be at school or online, administrators are legally obligated to take it seriously, and find resolve.
- Be consistent. If you keep reporting the problem, and every time it escalates and reduces in severity your voice will be heard.
- Don't be afraid. When you decide to face your bully it IS scary. But, only at first and once you experience liberation from the constant negativity you can gain confidence in yourself and the fear will fly out the window. Your happiness is worth the fear, just try to remember that once you're bully is shut down you will be practically BULLET PROOF.
Stories:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/lizzie-velasquez_n_4550829.html
Lizzie Velasquez is one of three known people in the world who suffers from a rare syndrome, which prevents her from gaining weight and has caused blindness in her right eye. But the 24-year-old consistently redefines what it means to be beautiful.
Some experts believe the Texas native has some form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome, a condition that causes accelerated aging and fat loss from the face and body, even though Velasquez eats about 60 small meals a day, the Telegraph reported.
Less empathetic people have found more odious labels for Velasquez's condition.
When Velasquez was in high school, she discovered a video of herself on YouTube that was titled "World's Ugliest Woman." It had garnered millions of views.
She had to decide in that moment whether or not she would let these cyberbullies define her.
Some experts believe the Texas native has some form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome, a condition that causes accelerated aging and fat loss from the face and body, even though Velasquez eats about 60 small meals a day, the Telegraph reported.
Less empathetic people have found more odious labels for Velasquez's condition.
When Velasquez was in high school, she discovered a video of herself on YouTube that was titled "World's Ugliest Woman." It had garnered millions of views.
She had to decide in that moment whether or not she would let these cyberbullies define her.
We have decided to choose this video because sends a power message to all of those who are extremely self conscious about themselves. Lizzie Velasquez is someone who can inspire many who have been in a similar situation. She was able to stand up and take pride on her appearance and continues to do so. Although many people take a double glance at her, she embraces her self beauty and uniqueness.