Persuasion Effect Project - Rough Draft
Every Month Should Be Bullying Awareness Month
Written by: Samantha Miller
Have you experienced or had someone close to you experience bullying? On the other hand, have you ever considered yourself or someone close to you a bully? Everyone can think of at least one time. Bullying is a huge issue throughout the world and is affecting millions. Children of all backgrounds need help when it comes to bullying. Going to school can be demanding on kids’ health as they are constantly faced with social pressures, finding ways to express themselves, and getting up after failing. All of these things would become easier to deal with if bullying didn’t exist.
It’s not just students that are faced with problems and bullying. People of all ages and backgrounds have had experiences where they’ve encountered a form of bullying in their life. Cyberbullying, physical bullying, verbal bullying, and emotional intimidation are all ways that bullying can occur. Constant aggression towards another, in any way, is considered bullying. It can be hurtful to the victim, their family members, and even the bully.
Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor was a 10-year-old girl who recently took her life as a result of bullying. Family members gathered at a park in Northern Salt Lake City to mourn their loss and plead with other parents to talk to their kids about bullying and mental health. As a student, I feel that parents, teachers, people around us, and even ourselves aren't prepared enough when friends, family members, and peers come to report bullying or share their feelings. Becoming more involved and supportive of people’s emotions around you will help make an environment more controllable and less aggressive. Teachers have a huge impact on students, so when kids come to them, teachers need to be more prepared. Mandatory training for teachers to help create a safe environment should be put in place in schools around the world so teachers will be able to do something when a student comes to them for help.
Anti-bullying is something that needs to be taken with respect and exercised everywhere. Teaching more people about how we can help prevent bullying and promote kindness can reduce bullying among children, and adults. Having hope and wanting change will have a positive outlook on our world if more people engage in anti-bullying and want to be the change.
Watching a loved one or friend get bullied can be just as hurtful as the victim in the situation. Even the bully is affected. An article from The New York Times, He Was a Playground Bully in 1965. His Film About It Is Up for an Oscar, shares insight into Jay Rosenblatt's new film, ”When We Were Bullies”. This new documentary goes into Jay Rosenblatt's past where he talks to his former classmates about how they feel as they look back on their behavior and how they felt after their teacher called him and his friends “animals”. The film is meant to capture the unending impact bullying has on the bullies and less on the victims. Going back on our pasts will allow us to open up about what happened, and help us learn to deal with our mistakes. Whether you’ve considered yourself a bully or not, going back to fix our mistakes will help us to move forward in life and become positive benefactors in our world.
You may wonder why individuals decide to bully. Many factors could play into this like, they come from an abusive family/relationship, they’re insecure and have low self-esteem, they’re in schools that don’t address bullying and don’t feel accepted, or just want to attain social power over their peers. Some people may not have forms of support from family, friends, and/or peers, which may be encouraging them to feel a certain way and become a bully toward others. Being encouraging of others can help lessen the bad feelings in people and lower the chances of them receiving the effects that come with bullying.
Some effects bullying has on individuals can be depression, anxiety, the feeling of loneliness, loss of interest in activities, health complaints, and a decrease in academic achievement. These effects may lead to suicide. One program that focuses on helping others and promoting being kind to others is Hope Squad. Hope Squad is a program that brings awareness to suicide and shares ways in which everyday people can promote prevention. This program is closely related to anti-bullying and why we need to be there for others. Schools nationwide have been encouraging students to take part in Hope Squad so they can recognize when someone needs help and be able to get it.
Specific groups have an increased risk of getting bullied. A difference in the color of skin, being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are all examples of people who get bullied as a result of being different. We can help make a difference by just being kind to others and inclusive to all.
Having respect for all students, using understanding and inclusive language, and knowing safe places to send people who need help are all ways ordinary people can become involved in this rising issue. You can participate in Pink Shirt Day, which is held every last Wednesday of February every year to help raise awareness for anti-bullying. People come together for this at schools, at work, and even at home to show their support against bullying and help make our world a better place. This event should be held every day in hopes that we can make a difference and beat bullying.
Works Cited
Written by: Samantha Miller
Have you experienced or had someone close to you experience bullying? On the other hand, have you ever considered yourself or someone close to you a bully? Everyone can think of at least one time. Bullying is a huge issue throughout the world and is affecting millions. Children of all backgrounds need help when it comes to bullying. Going to school can be demanding on kids’ health as they are constantly faced with social pressures, finding ways to express themselves, and getting up after failing. All of these things would become easier to deal with if bullying didn’t exist.
It’s not just students that are faced with problems and bullying. People of all ages and backgrounds have had experiences where they’ve encountered a form of bullying in their life. Cyberbullying, physical bullying, verbal bullying, and emotional intimidation are all ways that bullying can occur. Constant aggression towards another, in any way, is considered bullying. It can be hurtful to the victim, their family members, and even the bully.
Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor was a 10-year-old girl who recently took her life as a result of bullying. Family members gathered at a park in Northern Salt Lake City to mourn their loss and plead with other parents to talk to their kids about bullying and mental health. As a student, I feel that parents, teachers, people around us, and even ourselves aren't prepared enough when friends, family members, and peers come to report bullying or share their feelings. Becoming more involved and supportive of people’s emotions around you will help make an environment more controllable and less aggressive. Teachers have a huge impact on students, so when kids come to them, teachers need to be more prepared. Mandatory training for teachers to help create a safe environment should be put in place in schools around the world so teachers will be able to do something when a student comes to them for help.
Anti-bullying is something that needs to be taken with respect and exercised everywhere. Teaching more people about how we can help prevent bullying and promote kindness can reduce bullying among children, and adults. Having hope and wanting change will have a positive outlook on our world if more people engage in anti-bullying and want to be the change.
Watching a loved one or friend get bullied can be just as hurtful as the victim in the situation. Even the bully is affected. An article from The New York Times, He Was a Playground Bully in 1965. His Film About It Is Up for an Oscar, shares insight into Jay Rosenblatt's new film, ”When We Were Bullies”. This new documentary goes into Jay Rosenblatt's past where he talks to his former classmates about how they feel as they look back on their behavior and how they felt after their teacher called him and his friends “animals”. The film is meant to capture the unending impact bullying has on the bullies and less on the victims. Going back on our pasts will allow us to open up about what happened, and help us learn to deal with our mistakes. Whether you’ve considered yourself a bully or not, going back to fix our mistakes will help us to move forward in life and become positive benefactors in our world.
You may wonder why individuals decide to bully. Many factors could play into this like, they come from an abusive family/relationship, they’re insecure and have low self-esteem, they’re in schools that don’t address bullying and don’t feel accepted, or just want to attain social power over their peers. Some people may not have forms of support from family, friends, and/or peers, which may be encouraging them to feel a certain way and become a bully toward others. Being encouraging of others can help lessen the bad feelings in people and lower the chances of them receiving the effects that come with bullying.
Some effects bullying has on individuals can be depression, anxiety, the feeling of loneliness, loss of interest in activities, health complaints, and a decrease in academic achievement. These effects may lead to suicide. One program that focuses on helping others and promoting being kind to others is Hope Squad. Hope Squad is a program that brings awareness to suicide and shares ways in which everyday people can promote prevention. This program is closely related to anti-bullying and why we need to be there for others. Schools nationwide have been encouraging students to take part in Hope Squad so they can recognize when someone needs help and be able to get it.
Specific groups have an increased risk of getting bullied. A difference in the color of skin, being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender are all examples of people who get bullied as a result of being different. We can help make a difference by just being kind to others and inclusive to all.
Having respect for all students, using understanding and inclusive language, and knowing safe places to send people who need help are all ways ordinary people can become involved in this rising issue. You can participate in Pink Shirt Day, which is held every last Wednesday of February every year to help raise awareness for anti-bullying. People come together for this at schools, at work, and even at home to show their support against bullying and help make our world a better place. This event should be held every day in hopes that we can make a difference and beat bullying.
Works Cited
- KUER 90.1 | By Ivana Martinez. (2021, November 11). "nobody deserves to feel that way": Salt Lake Community mourns 10-year-old Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor. KUER. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://www.kuer.org/race-religion-social-justice/2021-11-10/nobody-deserves-to-feel-that-way-salt-lake-community-mourns-10-year-old-isabella-izzy-tichenor
- Tencer, E. (2021, November 10). Family, friends, classmates hold vigil for 10-year-old Utah girl. KSTU. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/family-friends-classmates-hold-vigil-for-10-year-old-utah-girl
- 15 challenges Middle School Kids Face and how to help. Atlanta Parent. (2019, February 13). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.atlantaparent.com/help-middle-school-kids/
- Forms of bullying. Forms of Bullying | STOMP Out Bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.stompoutbullying.org/forms-bullying
- Miller, S. (2022, March 23). He was a playground bully in 1965. his film about it is up for an Oscar. The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/when-we-were-bullies-brooklyn.html
- The best ways to promote anti-bullying in your school. TEEN TRUTH. (2021, June 28). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://teentruth.net/best-ways-promote-anti-bullying-school/
- Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA). (2021, April 6). Why some youth bully. StopBullying.gov. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/why-some-youth-bully