Frededreia Willis
Contributing Reporter
No matter where one lives, students are facing bullying in their schools.
Natalie Songer, 18, is a senior at Cedar Creek High School who has experienced bullying at her school.
Bullying becomes a problem when it is repetitive or when there is a conscious intent to hurt another child. It can be verbal, psychological or bullying, according to Scholastic, Inc.
Songer said she received an anonymous letter in her locker that told her some awful things.
“The letter has hurt me for years, but I’m doing better now,” she said.
The Internet is also becoming a huge part of many teens’ lives; it is no surprise that cyber bullying is seeing an increase.
Tianna Turner, a freshman family and child studies major, said that her friend who attends Ruston High School is currently a victim of cyber bullying.
“Things that have been said about my friend on Facebook have caused her to start cutting and she’s on a 24-hour suicide watch.” Turner said.
Based on national averages,approximately 204 students at Ruston High School will become a victim of cyber bullying in the next 12 months according to U Know Kids, an online bullying prevention site.
“I don’t like to see other children at my school getting bullied; it hurts my feelings just to see it happening.” said Jamarius Washington, 18, a Ruston High senior football player.
Bullies may be experiencing trouble at home, be underachievers in school, and for whatever reason they feel they have to make themselves better by picking on someone else.
“On the outside bullies may look fine, but chances are they may be very lonely or may deliberately try to hurt themselves or have trouble eating or sleeping,” Turner said.
When asked how he prevents bullying from taking place in his high school, Washington said, “Simple. I walk up and say, ‘Chill out man; you wouldn’t do that to me so why do it to him.’”
The reason is because victims of bullying are often shy and tend to be physically weaker than their peers, according to “Parents & Child Magazine.” They may also have low self-esteem and poor social skills, which makes it hard for them to stand up for themselves.
“Imagine if we started putting encouraging and loving letters in the other students’ lockers, how impactful that would be,” Songer said. “I pray that God uses me to speak kind words to prevent suicide in my high school.”
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