For most people, college is considered a blank slate. A place to forget about your past self, focus on your career, make new life long friends, and morph into the person you were meant to be all along. But what if the people in college act the same as they did in high school? You sit in your dorm room, alone, wondering why the people around you judge you before they even get the chance to know you? Unfortunately, it happens to so many young adults in college.
I just really don’t get it though. Why do people have to be so mean and judgmental? Studies show that most people bully others because they have self-esteem issues, are jealous or want to feel superior. I just always assumed they were traits of children, not adults. I assume it's just a pattern of behavior for some, but I always thought people would mature and realize that you don't have to like somebody to co-exist or have a civil working relationship. Everybody has a story, and you truly do not know what the other person is going through.
I have been a victim of bullying, as have many of my friends and other kids all around the world. The media has shown what bullying can do, and I've seen first hand what can bullying can lead to. I've experienced depression, as have so many other teens and college students. Depression caused by bullying is often times considered situational depression, something I have personal experience with, which basically means you're depressed due to a certain thing or situation, and it normally passes when the situation does. But other students are not so lucky. Students affected by bullying are often diagnosed with depression and suffer from suicidal thoughts, causing them to self harm or go as far as to kill themselves. These kids feel like such outcasts and that nobody would care if they were gone.
I thought bullying was all grade school and high school drama, but there are really no age limits. I have witnessed how cruel people can be to each other, and the effects it has on their performances, personalities, actions, and their overall well-being. It's heart-wrenching. Added onto the stress of college itself, it can cause some really serious situations. Kids come to college for a new start. They shouldn’t have to endure being ridiculed, judged, put down or isolated. I know there are social media campaigns and organizations that spread the word of bullying and how we need to do something about it, but what can we, as maturing college students, do about this?
Be kind.
I never realized how much this could do to change somebody's day. Whenever I was going through a rough time and somebody would be kind and tell me my hair looked nice or asked if me if I wanted to get dinner, my whole perspective of my day would completely turn around. And you know what? It was contagious. I try every day to be as kind as I possibly be. I can be sarcastic, no doubt and I know sometimes say things I shouldn't. But I try every single day to be kind, because you truly have no idea what others are going through. You never know how your actions and words can affect others. As cliché as it is, treat others how you would like to be treated. If you do so, you will see a complete change in the people around you. For us in the musical theater business, it is imperative that you learned to work with others if you ever want to be cast.
I leave you with this, a quote from the Disney princess herself:
"Have courage and be kind." -Cinderella
Also! If you are having some trouble and feeling very alone, please consider calling or visiting these websites:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1 (800) 273-8255
Their website:
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
The Trevor Project Lifeline:
1 (866) 488 7386
Their website:
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
