Breaking the Cycle of Bullying: One Former Victim's Empowerment Journey

Yea, me...

Being a military brat, I attended multiple schools up until the age of 16. Each new school meant a fresh beginning but also a recurring experience of being targeted by bullies. Over several school changes, rather than succumbing to their tactics, I resolved to do something about it. A turning point came when in one instance, I reached for a cricket bat and dealt a swift and severe blow to a bully who had tried to provoke me. He went down hard and began to cry. At that moment, I realized that extreme violence could be an effective deterrent. Once the aggression was shown, any future bullying attempts seemed to dissipate around me. This approach also made me friends; those who recognized my actions and stood by me were left in peace by the bullies.

The Cycle of Bullying and Its Consequences

While I may have once responded to the bullies with violence, the experience left me with mixed feelings. Admittedly, people saw me as an angry and unstable kid, but the bullies eventually retreated. Parents and teachers, often alarming but misguided, emphasized that “kids have to learn how to deal with things in the world by themselves because we won’t be there for them forever.”

Although I did not get scarred for life by the experience, there was a lingering distrust in others that could not be easily shaken. I carried a sense of resentment and the belief that people are not always reliable when faced with challenges. Moreover, I learned the importance of standing firm and taking decisive action when faced with adversity, but there was also a cost. The actions I took were eventually understood, but the road to trust and community acceptance was steep.

The Personal Impact and Lessons Learned

At one point, I turned to violence as a means to address the bullying. I found it both exhilarating and morally troubling. The article INTRO author says, "I was bullied for a while, then beat the piss out of him. It was fun. I’ll add some context later but I gotta go." Essentially, while the initial response may have been liberating, it also served as a stark reminder of the need for a better, more compassionate solution.

Reflecting on the journey, the experience taught me valuable lessons about trust, personal growth, and the complexities of human behavior. Today, I am still learning to be open to seeking advice or assistance when I am unsure of what to do in life. While my approach to bullying may have been unorthodox, it underscored the importance of taking proactive steps in situations that seem insurmountable.

Learning to trust and rely on others is a continuous process, and while my initial response may have been driven by a desire for protection, it also highlighted the enduring impact of bullying on individual coping mechanisms.