November Blog Post

Prior to Thanksgiving break, our class took on a rather tough subject for discussion; bullying. When people think of bullying most of the time they think of physical abuse, when in reality bullying comes in many shapes and sizes. Someone might recall a time in Middle School when they were intimidated by a classmate or teased about insecurities. Bullying with words, is still just as traumatizing as getting bullied with a fist. With the addition of bullying, we also discussed key words and terms that go along with bullying. These terms are important to understand, because they help us define how bullying can psychologically hurt not only other individuals, but also ourselves.

The first key term is, trigger warning. A trigger warning is something professors and others should give before discussing sensitive material. For example: Before a professor lectures on sexual abuse they might say this is a trigger warning subject. This way if anyone feels unsafe they can dismiss themselves from class and discuss alternate options with their professor. Individuals who have experienced traumatizing events may have a hard time discussing the material and may experience flashbacks, have a strong emotional response, or could have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It is important to remember that just because a topic is not difficult for you, does not mean that is the same for everyone. Bullying relates to this because we have to understand that everyone’s mental state is different and should be accommodated for.

The next key word is, advocate. An advocate is a supporter of a cause. However, these individuals are not only supports, but also members that help represent a cause. Being an advocate means you are fully emerged in the culture of the cause you are supporting. For example: I am an advocate for student rights. I have gone to countless board meetings and events to represent the student body, and advocate for a better learning environment. I am submerged into this particular culture as an active member. The word advocate is not to be confused with the word ally. An ally is someone who supports a cause, but is not a member. They are a friend who encourages change, but is not themselves submerged into the culture of it. An example would be if you were a part of LGBT and had a friend who supported you. Your friend is not a part of LGBT, but does support you and what you stand for. Advocates and allies relate to bullying because they are a crucial part to stopping bullying. If people advocate for positive change and keep strong allies, constructive change will be possible.

The last term is, self-care. Self-care is when you take time to rejuvenate yourself. Sometimes people can get so caught up helping others or be so focused on a situation that they forget to take care of themselves. For example: When my close friend Drake, passed away I had a hard time dealing with it. I did not eat a proper meal in weeks, get any sleep, or even take a good shower (I know it sounds gross). Since I spent all of my energy focusing on Drake, I forgot to take care of myself. When someone finally told me that I needed to get it together, the first thing I did was take a long, hot bath. And sometimes that’s all you need is a little “me time” to get yourself back up and running. Self-care relates to bullying, because it can lead to your own mental instability. People never stop to think that we can be our own worst bullies.