Four ways to deal with bullying

stacey

September 26, 2016 6:45 AM

According to research, about 25 percent of children experience bullying globally. Bullies, on the other hand, pick on their victims based on the following reasons, dressing, race or tribe, physical appearance and others.

Bullying is one of the commonest things students go through as they climb up the educational ladder.

Sometimes it's quite severe while other times it is on a lighter note but whether it severe or not it has a lot of impact on oneself especially individuals who have low self-esteem.

Bullying is repeated aggressive behavior in which a person picks on an individual physically, verbally or psychologically. This act mostly happens in and out of school.

Their joy is to see you hurt, angry, afraid, helpless, isolated, and ashamed. This can go a long way in affecting your self-esteem, physical health as well as mental health.

In Ghana, fresh students who gain admission into second cycle schools face all forms of bully from their seniors. They are made to kneel down for long hours, tuck their dresses in their panties, sing for senior students at night till they go to bed, weed at night (disco weeding, where students weed at night with touch light) and all kinds of unimaginable things.

Junior boys go through the worse form of bullying of all, they are forced to give out their provisions (milo, nido, sardines, gari, shito and others) to their seniors. Some of them are not even allowed to sleep on their own mattresses.

Most schools have included “ninos” night on their school calendars, where fresh students are made to mix colours with water to paint their faces, use their sponge to carry their soap dish and carry their pillows at their back like babies. This night becomes a memorable night in the lives of these “freshers”.

Bullies take delight in causing pain to their victims without considering the effects of their actions.

Fresh students who are supposed to enjoy their stay in school end up dropping out of school or changing schools due to bullies.

Walk away.

Do not show interest in what bullies have to say or think, just walk away from them and don't react to their actions. Walking away from them tells them you are no longer their object of ridicule what so ever.

Self-protection.

Walking away from bullies will help prevent you from being hurt. There’s the need to protect yourself by making your safety your priority.

Repeated reports.

You have to report threats of bullies to a trusted adult over and over again until the bullying stops. Sharing your fears with someone you trust doesn’t make you a weakling. There is no reason for you to keep up with bullying. Get help. Talking to a trusted person will do you no harm.

Be proud of yourself.

What bullies say about you should not have an impact in your life. Bullies will always use abusive words in order to take control of you but you should learn to build your confidence and self-esteem. Being proud of yourself will help you to ignore bullies and whatever they say or do. Pay no attention to bullies and build your self-confidence.

Be yourself and don’t allow bullies to take advantage of you.

stacey

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