Be a Buddy, Not a Bully!

Mireille Tanzil, Secondary 3 Courage

Hurt people hurt people.

Y dreaded X as they became Y’s biggest fear because of his brutal words. Y felt compelled to do things they didn’t want to do but had to. 

They would not speak up because he believed no one would listen to them. 

X would inflict as much bodily and psychological harm as possible on Y. He was just in much pain as X though beneath his strong veneer. His father made him feel unworthy at home by disparaging him all the time. 

X tried to regain control by lashing out at people since he didn’t know how to deal with his pain. 

Though no one knew the true reason for his behavior, his bullying was actually only a coping mechanism for the hurt he kept inside.

 All of our actions have a purpose, and those purposes have roots. 

To prevent those roots from taking place, BBS Bandung has recently released an anti-bullying campaign. 

According to our School Counselor, Ms Yuki, the anti-bullying campaign is a movement to raise awareness about harmful effects of bullying, promote positive behaviour, kindness and empower individuals to take action against bullying.

It was first established in 2021 with the goals of preventing trauma and violence, encouraging kindness and empathy towards others, supporting victims, and, most importantly, establishing a safe atmosphere, particularly in BBS. It supports the victims by giving them a voice so they may speak up and be brave, as well as resources and a support system to help them deal with their emotions. 

BULLYING

Education is crucial to stop bullying. Bullying is one of the most common expressions of violence in school between peers and students. 

Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. It could happen in many forms such as sexual, physical, emotional, verbal, social (by damaging someone’s reputation), cyberbullying, and discrimination based on race, gender and disability. 

You might ponder, “Why do people bully others?”

Villains are not born, they’re created. Most often, the ones hurting others carry hurt themselves. 

A multitude of factors might lead someone to bullying, including insecurity, low self-esteem, the need to project dominance, a lack of empathy, painful past experiences, and peer pressure.

It is important to understand these bullies’ own problems to reach a compromise so that both sides are at peace.

Keep your heart light 

 There are many ways to address bullying or being bullied; a little goes a long way. For instance, talking to a responsible adult can provide the child someone to rely on (parents and teachers are good examples), and if the child has experienced trauma, they should go see a psychologist for treatment to improve their mental health. 

How to prevent bullying? 

The purpose of the anti-bullying campaign is to spread awareness of bullying proactively and passionately. Reminding everyone that we must have a kind, loving, and empathic heart towards others is one way we may try to make this school a better and safer place for everyone. This should be practiced not only during lessons, but throughout the entire day.

Messages for Both Sides 

To the bullies : Give kindness a try. Defend others, show respect, and be the reason someone feels valued rather than shattered. Bullying hurts and causes long-lasting wounds. As per this year’s anti-bullying campaign’s slogan: “Build each other up, don’t tear each other down”.

To the victims : Being bullied doesn’t define you; you are stronger than the pain in your heart. Seek out assistance, there are always people who care about you and want to help you. You are deserving of compassion and respect. Be brave and courageous. Prove yourself that they are worthy, because you are.

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