Here Are Three Story's of bullying
My name is Tara Baker, I'm an actress and recently moved to Los Angeles from Bellingham, WA. I'm 21, openly gay, and have been for 2 years. Back in my home town, I had become a mentor in my community and routinely helped children and teens and even adults through struggles related to sexuality, bullying, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. I've been through some really hard times, I've been bullied, I've been called names, I've turned to some things that weren't the best choices to deal with what I was going through. But because of that, now I'm able to help others who may be going through hard times. Every single day I strive to be the role model that I want people to be able to look up to and remember, and to be sure that people know they can talk to me and I will listen, and they are never alone.
When I get to where I want to be in my acting career, I want to still stand as the same person I am now. I strive to help people believe that things WILL get better. Because at one point I didn't think things in my life would get better, but now here I am, standing tall, and working towards bigger goals (: This video is a song that I wrote about bullying and taking a stand against it, and I also added commentary to the video explaining the song and its significance. I want to show people that they don't need to be afraid of who they are, whoever that person it, and that love is louder than bullying, hate, discrimination, abuse, etc.
I care about bullying prevention because I know what it's like to be bullied and to feel like you don't have a voice. But with the right support, and being there for others to help them stand up, we can rise above it. Even one helping hand is enough to save a life. I've talked people down from suicide, and that's one reason why I live my life the way I do and try to help in any way I can. Because I may not be able to help everybody, but I'll never stop trying to do so. And I want to encourage as many people as I can to not be afraid to use their voices too.
By: Tara Baker
Have I been bullied? Of course.
Coming from a separated family that has moved several times, I've gone through a lot. Being the new girl over and over is tough, but at the same time it's a blessing. Everywhere I have lived I have been picked on, had things said about me behind my back, had friends turn on me, had problems at home. I have fought through cutting myself and am still fighting through depression. The strange thing is, I fit in with the bullies socially. I'm an athlete, I'm in honors classes, I'm a typical teenager. But one thing not typical about me is how I view others. Everyone is equal to me. I am friends with at least one person in each social group in my school. I participate in theatre, I'm in band, I'm in several clubs, and I go to church regularly. I'm not afraid to talk to a stranger and make them feel important. This is why I am bullied.
I may look like some of the "popular" girls and I may participate in some of the same things as them, but I am different. I am myself and that scares them. I moved to a new school halfway through my freshman year and it's now halfway through my junior year. At first, the popular group tried to pull me into their group, which they were somewhat successful at, but once they realized who I was, I soon became a target for them. There have been plenty of rumors spread about me but people don't believe them because they know who I am. There have been many times when I feel worthless, a lot of times being at clubs where I tend to sit by myself due to the fact that the other people don't find me acceptable. But I know those people won't matter to me in the future and what they say about me doesn't matter as long as I know myself.
They have tried countless times to drag me down, and yes, at times they have done so, but as time has gone on, I've gotten stronger. I've realized though that not everyone is like me. Many people who are victims of the bullies in my school don't have the same mentality as me and don't know how to stand up to them. This is what I'm trying to do. I want to stop this bullying. Out of all the places I've lived, the place where I am currently living has been the worse when it comes to bullying, especially since everyone here basically grew up together being in such a small city. I'm the outcast, the "new girl", the freak, but also the savior.
I've stood up for many people in school, stopping the pain that those people feel every day.
I give them courage and hope for the future. This is what I do. I'm doing it for others. I hope more people decide to do the same thing because it can truly make a difference.
Don't give up and don't let the bullies succeed.
By: Megan
Never Give Up
When I was in 8th grade I was walking home from school and noticed two boys beating up on one boy on a dirt path that surrounded the reservoir near our school. I don’t know what it was but I immediately ran up and pushed both of the boys off of this boy whom was younger than I and that I did not know. I told both of them to get out of here now or I will come after them. Both boys hesitated then left. I reached down to the boy on the ground and pulled him up with my two hands. His face was dirty and had cuts on it. His clothes were also dirty. I asked him what had happened. He told me that they just didn’t like him because he was different than them. He said he has a learning disability. I told him look, if they ever touch you again, tell the Principal or tell me. I grew up in a neighborhood where there were very large families and I had a lot of friends unlike this boy. I was in 8th grade, he was in 7th at the time.
Years later, I went on to always help the underdog, the one who was out numbered even standing up to my own so called friends who were about to outnumber a boy one night at a high school party. That boy never forgot that night that I stepped up to the bully in my grade for him.
I went on to become a Police Officer and was one for 20 years in the Boston area. That boy from the first incident approached me in a pub 15 years later and asked my name. I replied who I was. He said, “I want to thank you for saving me back in 7th grade, I never forgot it and I’m glad you’re a Police Officer protecting others.” I was floored!! The other boy I helped at the high school party, well he thanked me years later and he became a Police Officer himself and still is one today!
Sad to say, the boy in the first story passed away at the age of 45 last month due to medical issues he had. Stay strong, never give up and remember that there are people who want to help you. Just ask, reach out and you’ll be surprised how many there are.
By: Brian
My name is Tara Baker, I'm an actress and recently moved to Los Angeles from Bellingham, WA. I'm 21, openly gay, and have been for 2 years. Back in my home town, I had become a mentor in my community and routinely helped children and teens and even adults through struggles related to sexuality, bullying, drug/alcohol abuse, etc. I've been through some really hard times, I've been bullied, I've been called names, I've turned to some things that weren't the best choices to deal with what I was going through. But because of that, now I'm able to help others who may be going through hard times. Every single day I strive to be the role model that I want people to be able to look up to and remember, and to be sure that people know they can talk to me and I will listen, and they are never alone.
When I get to where I want to be in my acting career, I want to still stand as the same person I am now. I strive to help people believe that things WILL get better. Because at one point I didn't think things in my life would get better, but now here I am, standing tall, and working towards bigger goals (: This video is a song that I wrote about bullying and taking a stand against it, and I also added commentary to the video explaining the song and its significance. I want to show people that they don't need to be afraid of who they are, whoever that person it, and that love is louder than bullying, hate, discrimination, abuse, etc.
I care about bullying prevention because I know what it's like to be bullied and to feel like you don't have a voice. But with the right support, and being there for others to help them stand up, we can rise above it. Even one helping hand is enough to save a life. I've talked people down from suicide, and that's one reason why I live my life the way I do and try to help in any way I can. Because I may not be able to help everybody, but I'll never stop trying to do so. And I want to encourage as many people as I can to not be afraid to use their voices too.
By: Tara Baker
Have I been bullied? Of course.
Coming from a separated family that has moved several times, I've gone through a lot. Being the new girl over and over is tough, but at the same time it's a blessing. Everywhere I have lived I have been picked on, had things said about me behind my back, had friends turn on me, had problems at home. I have fought through cutting myself and am still fighting through depression. The strange thing is, I fit in with the bullies socially. I'm an athlete, I'm in honors classes, I'm a typical teenager. But one thing not typical about me is how I view others. Everyone is equal to me. I am friends with at least one person in each social group in my school. I participate in theatre, I'm in band, I'm in several clubs, and I go to church regularly. I'm not afraid to talk to a stranger and make them feel important. This is why I am bullied.
I may look like some of the "popular" girls and I may participate in some of the same things as them, but I am different. I am myself and that scares them. I moved to a new school halfway through my freshman year and it's now halfway through my junior year. At first, the popular group tried to pull me into their group, which they were somewhat successful at, but once they realized who I was, I soon became a target for them. There have been plenty of rumors spread about me but people don't believe them because they know who I am. There have been many times when I feel worthless, a lot of times being at clubs where I tend to sit by myself due to the fact that the other people don't find me acceptable. But I know those people won't matter to me in the future and what they say about me doesn't matter as long as I know myself.
They have tried countless times to drag me down, and yes, at times they have done so, but as time has gone on, I've gotten stronger. I've realized though that not everyone is like me. Many people who are victims of the bullies in my school don't have the same mentality as me and don't know how to stand up to them. This is what I'm trying to do. I want to stop this bullying. Out of all the places I've lived, the place where I am currently living has been the worse when it comes to bullying, especially since everyone here basically grew up together being in such a small city. I'm the outcast, the "new girl", the freak, but also the savior.
I've stood up for many people in school, stopping the pain that those people feel every day.
I give them courage and hope for the future. This is what I do. I'm doing it for others. I hope more people decide to do the same thing because it can truly make a difference.
Don't give up and don't let the bullies succeed.
By: Megan
Never Give Up
When I was in 8th grade I was walking home from school and noticed two boys beating up on one boy on a dirt path that surrounded the reservoir near our school. I don’t know what it was but I immediately ran up and pushed both of the boys off of this boy whom was younger than I and that I did not know. I told both of them to get out of here now or I will come after them. Both boys hesitated then left. I reached down to the boy on the ground and pulled him up with my two hands. His face was dirty and had cuts on it. His clothes were also dirty. I asked him what had happened. He told me that they just didn’t like him because he was different than them. He said he has a learning disability. I told him look, if they ever touch you again, tell the Principal or tell me. I grew up in a neighborhood where there were very large families and I had a lot of friends unlike this boy. I was in 8th grade, he was in 7th at the time.
Years later, I went on to always help the underdog, the one who was out numbered even standing up to my own so called friends who were about to outnumber a boy one night at a high school party. That boy never forgot that night that I stepped up to the bully in my grade for him.
I went on to become a Police Officer and was one for 20 years in the Boston area. That boy from the first incident approached me in a pub 15 years later and asked my name. I replied who I was. He said, “I want to thank you for saving me back in 7th grade, I never forgot it and I’m glad you’re a Police Officer protecting others.” I was floored!! The other boy I helped at the high school party, well he thanked me years later and he became a Police Officer himself and still is one today!
Sad to say, the boy in the first story passed away at the age of 45 last month due to medical issues he had. Stay strong, never give up and remember that there are people who want to help you. Just ask, reach out and you’ll be surprised how many there are.
By: Brian