Being bullied is a terrible experience. Most of us have experienced some level of bullying at one time or another in our lives. It is often painful and affects one’s self-esteem. As adults, we try and cope with it using the tools we have developed over the years. But what about children who are being bullied? Children do not yet have these tools; they do not have the emotional strength to face this. Sometimes the result of the self-esteem damage is too much for a child to handle and sadly leads to heartbreaking results.
Livy Jeanne is a talented 16 year old singer – songwriter from Strathcona County
I will let Livy tell you her story, in her own words:
“I am Livy Jeanne, and I’m here to tell you that there are 160,000 kids each day that beg to stay home from school because they are being bullied. I was one of those 160,000.
I cried a thousand tears before I realized that I had the ability within myself to turn away from the hurt, that I wasn’t alone and that there were people I could count on, people who cared for me and saw me for who I am.
I could have easily turned to drugs, alcohol, cutting, conforming or even just disappearing… But I didn’t. By finding my passion (which is music) I found a place to express myself, find some personal strength and feel good about who I am.
I feel a responsibility to connect with kids like me- the ones who have reached out for acceptance, struggled with being judged and wondered where they fit into this crazy world.
By sharing my story and my music, I want them to know that I GET IT – because I’ve been there. And I’ve figured out that we are all important, unique and special individuals who matter. There is nothing wrong with being ourselves – and starting right now, today can be different!!
WE DON’T HAVE TO BE INVISIBLE…”
Livy has also started a blue “Awareness” bracelet campaign endorsing the Kids Help Phone line.
If you would like to support Livy or help her with her campaign you can contact her via e-mail at livymusicinc@gmail.com or LivyJeanne@LivyJeanne.com
You can also visit her website at http://livyjeanne.com/site/ or listen to her on http://www.youtube.com/livymusic
Thank you Livy for caring and standing up to bullying!
Mayor Linda
No offense to the young lady who wrote this ... but all the "anti-bullying" campaigns in the world are NOT good enough. It's ALL lip service and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteIT. MEANS. NOTHING.
IT. HAS. CHANGED. NOTHING.
My daughter comes home from school EVERY DAY hurt and depressed because the kids who were her friends last year now are too good to talk to her. I have huge fears that she is going to commit suicide if this continues. She's not even 11. She tries to go talk to the kids at recess & lunch, make conversation, and they just walk away from her, or like yesterday, said "Uh, I don't CARE".
It's bullying in a different form to just pretend someone isn't there, or turn and walk away after they have been asked, "Can I join you?" As a victim of severe psychological and emotional abuse & domestic violence, I can tell you that the abuse is just as real as if I had been beaten physically. I was able to get out of that situation, but it was what it was -- ABUSE. And what my daughter is going through is just as ABUSIVE as if they were physically "bullying" her.
Much like all the hype in the 90's about "stranger danger" actually endangered our children MORE -- because they didn't know that dangerous strangers could look just like grandpa, because they were led to believe that these strangers would look like monsters or evil --- all this "anti-bullying" hype is just making it worse. It's giving these kids permission to be quietly abusive. It hurts just as much as if they're beating each other up! And just because it's not physical doesn't make it any less horrible!
Instead of paying lip service to anti-bullying, why not focus on "PRO friendship" ???
THAT might change something.
THAT might be worth something.
THAT might just change the world.
Because "anti-bullying" won't EVER change ANYTHING.
CanadianE, I understand your frustration. As a mother my heart goes out to you and your daughter. Do keep in mind that every campaign, every individual that stands up against bullying DOES help. Even if only one person stops being a bully or one child phones the Kids Help line, it is worth it. We must all do what we can in any way possible. By having more and more people speak out about bullying, by standing up to bullies, We can make a difference and have made a difference. Please contact Strathcona Family and Community Services http://www.strathcona.ab.ca/departments/family-community-services.aspx . They may be able to help and guide you in the right direction to put a stop to your daughter being bullied.
ReplyDeleteDon't give up and God bless,
Mayor Linda