It was a clinic day during an adolescent well child visit. She had filled out a Questionnaire. Under the question that asked “do you feel like you are bullied?” she wrote yes. I calmly asked why she felt this way. She went on a short story about how her “so-called friends” were talking about her behind her back and at this point she tended to keep to herself and didn’t have many friends anymore. I held back a choking feeling and said, “hang in there, it will get better”. Later, I wondered if that was actually true.
I am coming up a few weeks shy of starting my last year of residency. It is been a difficult yet worthwhile journey to get to where I am today. Growing up, I was a quiet and shy child. That made me an easy target for bullies. Often, I felt out of place and I grew up not having many friends. I remember wondering if things would get better.
I can only speak for myself, but I can say it does get better.
Social media has afforded us the opportunity to keep close tabs on those people that grew up with. For better or worse, we know exactly how they turned out. I can’t speak to the success of others because everyone has a different path in life. For myself I feel like I achieved my ultimate dream and then some. Those bullies and naysayers seem to be doing OK but so am I. With a wonderful family, a loving partner and enough good friends to last me a lifetime, I would say that this is what better should look like. I’m still that quiet kid that would try to hold back tears when someone was saying mean things about her, but it doesn’t affect me as much anymore.
It does get better.
Thanks for sharing the post. I’ve learned through the experience of father and teaching that we have to teach our kids/ youth that they are in control of their lives and that we draw in or are responsible for all that is in our lives. Even bullies! I remember a student that was made fun of by everyone because of his last name and he would cry. It got worse and he had no friends. The next year he came back he would laugh with the students and actually had came up with better jokes about his name. It lasted a week before no one made fun of him anymore. It’s easier said than done but when he stopped being a victim and claimed his power he changed his entire “status” and life got better! Thanks for sharing the post.
Thank you for sharing your story, it is always encouraging to hear when people can change for the better!
I’m trying!