To those who are still bullying,
My first question is why? Why do you feel the need to put others down to make yourself feel better? I can answer that for you. You don't. Think about your deepest insecurities and imagine someone making an incessant joke about them over and over. I bet it makes you feel great, doesn't it? Instead of putting others down, try building yourself up instead. Learn that those are two different things.
If someone asked me to describe a bully, I would be left almost speechless, because the idea that someone could be a bully just blows my mind. The amount of stories of kids being so harshly made fun of to the point that they can't even go back to school, so tortured that they change forever, is insane.
What drives you to hurt others so badly who have done nothing to you? When you see someone who is different, or doesn't play sports, or is overweight, or anything else, what makes you feel the need to torture them because they're different?
Clearly, the problem lies within YOU and not the poor kid you're teasing. So instead of looking at a fellow classmate, friend, or teammate and thinking, "what can I make fun of them for to make myself feel better?", think, "what is wrong within ME that I feel the need to put this person down?"
There are no nice words in my vocabulary for people who still bully. No matter what is driving you to do this, it isn't an excuse.
The kids that are being bullied are the kids that I want to be friends with. They're different, and fun, and sweet. Maybe you're jealous of these kids for having some talent that you don't. I sure am.
So, to the kids who continue to bully others, stop. Stop and think about the effect you're having on these poor kids and stop and think how you are portraying yourself. Do you want to be the one to ruin someone's life forever because of some rumor you're torturing them with? Do you want one of your classmates to never come back to school because you made fun of them for not making the sports team?
I don't respect kids who bully, and I never will. But I am signing this letter with love, because that is what you're missing, and that is what you need to learn to accept for yourself, and give to others as well.
Love,
Everyone