The Struggle Is Real

Bullying

Chapter 4

Bullying

Autistic individuals should not feel ashamed of their condition. It is my belief that being autistic is a superpower that I consider to be a gift. You become more sensitive to other people's emotions as a result of their autism. As someone with autism, you are aware of the hurt that bullying may cause. For the most part, people who are vulnerable are treated like freaks for entertainment or feelings of superiority. Despite facing potential bullying and hurtful words, I strongly believe that autistic individuals should continue to be proud of who they are. They should never feel ashamed of the superpower they possess and should use it to help the people around them. People's opinions and actions towards you are influenced by the kind of person you are. By taking a stand and being proud of who they are, autistic individuals demonstrate that they have the power to influence the world around them. Imagine what it would be like to have autism? With a strong sense of self-determination and resilience, autistic individuals exemplify that they can have a meaningful and powerful impact on the societies in which they live. How would you feel if you were autistic and different? In the event of disability? In that case, what would be your behavior?

Bullying

Bullying made me feel like a failure, like I was not important. I felt worthless and alone, unable to find support or solace in anyone. Sometimes I felt humiliated and sometimes I had bad dreams at night. The worst part of it all was that I felt completely powerless to do anything about it; no matter how hard I tried, I could not escape the feelings of inadequacy and helplessness. The relentless bullying made me feel trapped in a cycle of despair and hopelessness, never able to find a way out. They would call me horrible names, tease and put me down. I remember when one boy said to my friend, 'You're not friends with that untypical boy, aren't you?' And my friend said 'no' even though he was. My self-esteem plummeted as I was made to feel like I didn't belong, and I could never measure up to the people around me. I felt completely alone and powerless. As time went on I then began feeling very depressed. I found it difficult to go to school. I had no motivation. This feeling of isolation caused me to retreat into myself, creating a vicious cycle of feeling alone and powerless, leading to further feelings of depression and apathy.
I once told the teachers what was going on but nothing was being done and the bullying got worse. I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands and confront the bully myself. I started to come home from school crying and sometimes, I would even cry when my siblings dropped me off at school. I really hated school for that, because I was bullied to the point where I tried to end my own life and I was even once admitted to hospital for cutting myself. I knew that I had to do something, so I mustered up all the courage I had, and decided to take a stand against the bully. With a newfound sense of determination, I stood tall and faced the bully. I no longer felt afraid, and finally put an end to the bullying. Thankfully, my bravery and determination paid off, and the bullying finally stopped. I had these feelings because my best friend committed suicide due to being bullied. I was determined to make sure the same thing didn't happen to anyone else; I refused to let the bully get away with it.

Bullying

This is a problem that needs to be taken seriously, but people laugh about it and tell you: "you are just imagining things." This ignores the fact that the problem is real and needs to be addressed, which is why we should not take it lightly.
No person in this world deserves to be bullied. After experiencing being bullied, I am taking a stand against bullying. As someone who has been hurt by bullying, I am committed to raising awareness and advocating for change.
I will use my experiences and platform to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.