Think bullying is just a cute little phase that kids go through, which will ultimately make them a stronger, better person? Think again.
According to recent eye-opening iReports, childhood bullying has affected adults in ways a young punk pushing around his fellow classmates could never have imagined.
Mike Sarkany, who was tormented at school since fifth grade, writes about the consequences of his subsequent bullying in his iReport titled “Happier Times”:
“I took an off-ramp from the highway of life during my teens and for all intents and purposes never got back on that highway.”
Adults and authority figures told him to stand up for himself, but much like many other bullied kids, he didn’t know how. Instead, he chose to avoid anyone who might mistreat him.
Now a 57-year-old college graduate with a business administration degree, he says, ├óΓé¼┼ôI spend my days in my apartment – hiding. It’s safer that way.├óΓé¼┬¥
He even believes he lost several jobs because he didn’t want to associate too much with other people, and was told several times, “You just don’t seem to fit in.”
So sad! This is awful!
This, among other reports, indicates that bullying is a much larger problem in our society than we have ever imagined. Because of some stupid kid taking out his anger and resentment for his own life on another kid who did NOTHING WRONG, his life may be dramatically altered.
PLEASE! Talk to your kids about bullying and encourage them to treat their classmates with respect. Remember, bullied kids often become bullies themselves, so watch out how your children treat their younger siblings because that may lead to more bullying elsewhere!
[Image via AP Images.]
