The Truth About Bullying

Recently I had the extraordinary experience to go to an assembly and hear from Teen Truth. This assembly was all about how we make people feel different and bully others. It’s an amazing presentation that take these problems and gives teens a voice on them. So here’s my truth.

I’VE BEEN BULLIED. I've been called names like fatty, brat, and other slanderous terms. I've been EXCLUDED and shut-out. I've been pushed and shoved for no good reason. People have spread rumors about me and told lies. Others have made me feel like I DON'T MATTER. They have made me feel like nothing. They have HURT ME in one way or another. I’ve been bullied-but so have a lot of other people.

Others have been OUTCASTED and pushed around. They have been treated differently because of race, sexual orientation, and disability. They have been pushed, hit, and kicked. . They have been lied to and lied about. They have been made fun of because of the way they look, talk, and behave. They have had their REPUTATION DESTROYED and their CONFIDENCE STRIPPED. In some way or another EVERYONE HAS BEEN BULLIED

But most people don’t just get bullied, they have BEEN A BULLY. They have said a rude comment. They have called someone a mean name. They have left someone out. They have JUDGED SOMEONE and talked about them behind their back. They have heard or even spread the rumors. They have has stood by and DONE NOTHING. At some point in time EVERYBODY HAS BULLIED.

So here's what I'm doing. I'm becoming a better person. I'm done talking about others behind their back. I will stand up against the bullies I see. I won’t walk by people who look upset. I will be kind to others. I will TELL THE TRUTH. What about you? How have you been bullied? How have you bullied others? How will you change? Share your truth about bullying with me in the comments.

Speak Up and Be Heard

     Speaking isn't always easy. It means getting up in front of people and trying to explain your own thoughts for them to judge. The idea of doing that is scary to a lot of people, including me. There is always a chance that someone will argue or talk back or ask questions or judge you. It’s frightening to think about how people will see your ideas. Will they agree? Will they understand? What will they think? When you speak up you put yourself out there to be judged and the idea of doing that can be absolutely terrifying.

     So why do we do it? Why is speaking out and sharing your opinion valued so highly in our lives? We do it because we believe in a system. We believe that if you share your thoughts they will be heard. Even if there are questions and people telling you you're wrong somewhere there is a person who understands and you've planted a seed in their head. We believe ideas are collective. That what we think comes from what we experience, understand, and from others opinions. If you don’t share your opinion then how can you be sure others will form there’s? If nobody ever shares then people will never be able to formulate their own opinions again and we will be forever stuck in the exact way we are thinking now. Lastly, we believe in being heard. We believe that every individual’s idea has some value because every individual thinks differently. Overall there are a variety of reasons that people believe it is important to share your opinions.

     But having good reasons to share doesn't make speaking out any less frightening. Getting up in front of people and speaking terrifies me. I’m always worried I’ll mess up and say the wrong thing or that people will lose interest. So how do you conquer the fear? The truth is there are different ways to conquer the fear because there are different reasons people get scared. Maybe you think you’ll say the wrong word. If so, one thing to do is work on your confidence and practice what you want to say. The best advice I can give you is that if you mess up just keep going. The mistakes you make may be huge to you, but most people won't notice them. Now you could worried about people losing interest. A great way to become a more dynamic and entertaining speaker is to practice. Stand in front of a mirror and talk about random topics. Focus on the way you look and sound and make adjustments. What if your worried about what people will think about what you say? The truth is people will always judge what you say, but the way you say it can make a big difference. If you speak with confidence and passion then people will listen and value your opinion, even when they don’t agree with it. The most important things to remember when your speaking are to be confident in yourself and your opinions, to focus on what matters, and to relax and trust in your own abilities. Realistically, speaking up is scary, but if we never worked to persevere and overcome our fears then we would never accomplish anything. So please comment and share with me some of the techniques you use to overcome the fear.

The HOSA Journey

With the new year starting and everyone gearing up for the State Leadership Conference in a few months, the HOSA year is in full swing. Its times like these that it’s nice to take a step back and look at the great things that HOSA has done for you throughout the years. HOSA is such a great experience for everyone who joins. It gives students confidence, skills, and empowers them to do phenomenal things. In the years I have been in HOSA I have learned so many wonderful skills and met so many fantastic people. When I first started HOSA I had just switched to a new school and I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere. I felt like a complete outsider. I walked up to a teacher and told them I wanted to go into the medical field and they told me to join Medical Pathways and join HOSA. Making the choice to join was the best decision I ever made. When I first started out I was just another student. I had ideas to share and things to say, but I refused to stand up and speak out. I knew what I wanted to be but no idea how to get there.

When I first started I was completely out of place in a new environment with no idea what to do or how to get to where I wanted to be. Now that I’ve been in HOSA my entire life has changed.  Now that I’m here my perspectives have changed. I don’t just try to meet new people throughout my school but from all of California and the rest of the nation. The girl that once refused to speak up is a state officer.  I share ideas constantly and talk to large groups without batting an eye. I may not know the exact path I’m going to take, but I have the resources to get to my destination. I’m not just another student, I’m a HOSA member and I have never felt better about who I am. I’m not going to lie and say the path here was easy. It was challenging and I stumbled throughout it but it’s the stumbles and conquering the challenges that make the experience memorable. So tell me, what's your HOSA experience and what has it done for you?