I could have used a hero…

My story began at an early age when attending elementary school. I learned quickly about unkind jokes, cruel comments, and loneliness. Unfortunately the bullying carried throughout middle school and into high school. In my older years the loneliness led to depression.

I was told I was ugly – that I wasn’t “pretty enough” to talk to boys. My hair was curly and considered weird, my clothes were childish, and if I wore a shirt I liked twice in one week, that was considered too often and I was made fun of for not having “cool” clothes. I recall one time where a girl had stolen my shoes and shoved them into the toilet in the boys’ bathroom. I walked home in bare feet.

In high school, I cried every morning trying to get my hair to “look good enough.” I wore my coat all day because I was afraid of what people would think of my clothes and appearance. When I heard someone laugh, I panicked because I thought they were laughing at me.

It became hard for me to speak to anyone because I thought I would be judged by others or bother them. I started to actively distance myself from my family. I didn’t have friends, I didn’t go outside, and I started to eat less. I developed anorexia nervosa – leaving me feeling faint and panicked often. Every day it got harder and harder to breathe.

I could have used a hero throughout those tough years. Someone recognizing my pain, sticking up for me, or counterbalancing the negative with positive. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness.

In 2007, two heroes recognized another’s pain and took a stance.  #BeSomeonesHero

When their high school classmate was bullied for wearing a pink shirt, two boys organized a school wide protest and encouraged everyone to stand up to bullying by wearing pink. The next day, the halls were filled with students in pink t-shirts. (Source).

Now it’s a nationwide movement to wear pink and come together to stop all forms of bullying, which is recognized as causing harm (verbally, socially, physically, or online) intentionally to someone else.

Bullying Affects Everyone

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, individuals across Canada will be wearing pink to stand against all forms of bullying for Pink Shirt Day. This year, the focus is on recognizing and preventing cyberbullying.

Wee College encourages everyone to join us and hundreds of thousands of others by wearing pink on February 27 to join the stand against bullying.

We all have a story – what’s your story?

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Want to learn more about Childhood and Youth Bullying and how to prevent it?

Get your free access to the full Childhood and Youth Bullying Resource on our Parent Resources page.

– Elyse