One Overcomer's Quest to End Bullying

From middle school through high school, Jodee Blanco was considered a school outcast. She was tormented and dealt with years of painful school bullying and peer abuse. Jodee wasn’t the popular kid that did all the “cool” things in school to be accepted by her peers.

“I didn't want to make fun of the chubby girl with glasses or the shy kid at the back of the class. If I saw something going on I didn't like, I spoke up. These might be great qualities to have when you're an adult, but they're not so wonderful when you're a teenager,” says Jodee.

For being different, she stood out and became an easy target for many of her classmates. She recalls one of many incidents when the abuse she suffered at the hands of her classmates turned physical.

“They dragged me across the parking lot chanting, “We’re going to kill you. They started kicking me and spitting on me. They ripped open my bookbag and threw the contents all over the ground,” says Jodee.

Through the years, Jodee’s parents transferred her to several different schools in an effort to eliminate the bullying she faced by many of her classmates. She was often seen as the problem because she was different, the harder she tried to fit in, the worse it always got.

“I remember being so lonely in school that I would sometimes wake up in the morning wishing myself to sickness so I wouldn't have to face the teasing and rejection I knew was coming the moment I walked through the school doors,” recalls Jodee.

SIGNS OF BULLYING

Jodee says no one should have to endure being teased, bullied, or humiliated. She says if you are a victim of bullying, remember there is nothing wrong with you. Jodee’s advice to victims of bullying include: never ignore the bully and walk away; don’t suffer in silence, confide in an adult you trust; and seek an alternative social outlet such as the local park district, community center or public library.

As a parent, if you feel your child may be a victim of bullying, Jodee says know the warning signs that a child might exhibit if he/she is getting bullied. Those signs could include: lethargy, depression, self mutilation, extreme makeover attempts, diminished personal hygiene, lack of interest in social activities, sudden change in weight, sudden increase or decrease in grades, inexplicable fits of rage, and faking illness or willing oneself sick to avoid going to school.

INTERNET BULLYING

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, “Online bullying, called cyberbullying, happens when teens use the Internet, cell phones, or other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.”

The following statistics are adapted from the youth research compiled at CyberBullying.us:

33 percent of youth have been victimized by cyber bullying.
Among this percentage, being ignored and disrespected were the most common forms of cyber bullying.
The primary cyber bullying location where victimizing occurs is in chat rooms (56 percent).
Following chat rooms, 49 percent are victimized via instant message and 28 percent via e-mail.
Some of the devastating affects of this form of bullying can cause poor grades, low self-esteem, depression, and in some cases suicide. With cyberbullying there is no escape for the victim since the internet is always open and the bully is often able to keep their identity anonymous. StopBullyingNow.com offers the following tips to help prevent cyberbullying:

Keep your computer(s) in a common area of the house such as a family room or kitchen.
Encourage your child to tell you if he or she is aware of others who may be the victims of such behavior. Explain that cyber bullying is harmful and unacceptable behavior. Outline your expectations for responsible online behavior and make it clear that there will be consequences for inappropriate behavior.
Review your child’s on-line communications if you think there is reason for concern.
Consider installing parental control filtering software and/or tracking programs.