I’m going to level with you, I hate bullying and I will do everything I could possibly do to

prevent it from being a common occurrence. People share my view on this topic and
believe it should be one of the main priorities to monitor. I experienced it, I was a victim.
I want to talk to you about what bullying is, its consequential effects and some of my
story hopefully leaving you with both a more insight/significance into myself and a little
insight as to how to prevent it.

Can you imagine for me a little boy, with the oversized shirt and hat and bag waddling
down to these school gates, he was full of anticipation, wonder, happiness, excitement,
motivation and courage. He seems like a little boy with an extremely bright future
doesn’t he! Little did he know he wouldn’t stay that way for very long. From the minute
he walked into those gates, from the moment he spoke to the first person he was
instantly targeted by bullies and he didn’t know why. He became the apple of the eye of
every bully, and serves as catched-basin of all hateful and degrading words. He was
told he was worthless, he was told to end his life, he could never achieve anything, he
was told he was fat and ugly and stupid. This boy was 6 years old! Yet these words and
actions left a very remarkable scar into his mind for years. That boy is 16 now. That boy
was me.

It started in kindergarten and it continued all the way up to 3 years until eventually it
became too much, to unbearable that I was forced to move from one school to another.
And unfortunately it didn’t stop there either, it continued through the years. That’s my
entire primary school life. How do you guys remember your last day of grade 6?
Probably crying because you will miss everyone and laughing back at all the past
memories. I experienced my last year for 6 days in the bathroom, sitting in the cubical
eating my lunch because I felt being threated, ashamed to walk outside those doors and
face the harsh words from them and people had to say. I felt scared in my own
environment. These people, they didn’t know how much they were really hurting me and
how much they were affecting me. These bullies don’t understand that what they say
actually DOES hurt that person whether they show it or not. They don’t care, they laugh,
they are indifferent. My mommy spent 7 years of her life building my self-confidence
back to right track again after I didn’t believe in myself anymore, I thought I was
worthless and I started to believe what these people were saying about me is the gospel
of truth. When you start to believe what they say that’s when the depression and the
anxiety as well as self hate starts or comes in to your human system. It is proven that
the more you are told frequently, the more you start to believe in, these kids are
targeted everyday. I want you to know that you might be playing around; I could pretty
much say that 98% of you have teased someone in your life. What if the person you’re
teasing is the person who is thinking of committing suicide?

What numbers of suicides have to take place before society realizes that bullying kills
people. People that pulling someone down won’t make you reach the top. It’s not funny
and it’s not a game. In high school, unlike primary school, I have a support system, I
have people there for me who will bring me back from that verge of suicide, I thank
those people who are my friends I’m still here.

We, as a community, need to be that support network for these kids and these students
who can’t speak for themselves, we need a change. Bullying happens everywhere. If
someone is alone on the play ground will you offer to be his friend? If a friend is sad
because of a mean text or message will you send some kind words to make her smile?
If someone puts you down will you believe them or choose to believe in yourself? I
cordially support the creation of Child Protection Policy in every school in accordance
with DepEd ORDER No. 40, s. 2012.

BE APART OF THE POSITIVE NOT THE NEGATIVE SPEAK UP AND SPREAD

KINDNESS!