No matter how much people get to you, don’t let them succeed.
Not long ago, the world saw a video of 9-year-old Quaden Bayles of Australia, who was crying after a bullying incident. “Give me the knife,” said Bayles. “I want to kill myself. I just want to die right now.”
That heartbreaking video brought an army of support for Bayles, including Australia’s National Rugby team. Over the weekend, the team invited Bayles to step on the field before a game. Bayles received a standing ovation as he held onto player Joel Thompson. Other sports figures reached out to Bayles, too, including boxer Billy Dib, wrestler Hornswoggle, and ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong, who will help Quaden learn the martial arts.
Quaden Bayles, I want you to know that you aren’t alone! I’m constantly picked on because of autism, and I’ve also contemplated calling it quits a few times. But no matter how much people may get to you, don’t let them succeed!
And to those who bully others to the point of suicide, know that your behavior is technically attempted murder. Be ashamed. Stop bullying!
I’m going to stay strong. I hope you do, too, Quaden. Take to heart the words of TSC founder/CEO, Brett Dickinson, who also serves as Director of Operations at the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation:
“Quaden, every time you get up in the morning, think COURAGE. Courage is what helps you battle adversity and to fight harmful words and actions. You are a true inspiration to everyone and a role model for those suffering from bullying. Be proud of yourself for everything you have overcome, and for everything you will have to overcome in the future.”
Bullying is incredibly damaging to a young person trying to fit into the world. All kids want is to have fun with their friends and enjoy their youth. Not every child gets a bag of childhood joy. Many wake up every day in fear of going to school and go to bed, terrified of what may occur to them the next day based on what may have happened that day. The unfortunate truth is that kids don’t know better. Now that is no excuse, but it’s the harsh reality. Who’s to blame? It all starts in the home, my friends. It’s the parent’s responsibility to raise their children the right way, and bullying is a topic that must be discussed as much as looking both ways before crossing the street. Whether your child is the bully, the one being picked on, or someone who is popular and falls in between, it’s our job as parents to educate our kids about the problems and risks involved in bullying.
Moreover, the education system and schools around the world need to take time during the day to discuss this topic and even show videos about it. Visualization is a favorite youngsters gift. If they see the damage bullying causes to people, then they may become sympathetic. Kids, despite having next to no filter when speaking, do have a heart and do have real emotions and real feelings that could turn a bully into the guy who sticks up for those being bullied.
Whether you’re a 9-year-old boy from Australia named Quaden Bayles who was born with achondroplasia dwarfism or your average every-day 4th-grade girl from the United States – bullying hurts all the same. In Quaden Bayle’s case and many others who have been the victim of being bullied, every day fear they experience these young, harmless children the idea of taking their lives. At an age where it’s inconceivable even to have that thought, kids who are bullied begin to run out of options for help, especially if they don’t say anything to their parents or teachers. As parents and guardians, we need to let out children know it’s okay to talk and tell us things in their life without being scared. Bullying is sickening and horrific, no matter who the victim is. But when it’s a nine-year-old kid with a disease and/or disformity, then that’s just flat out cruel by these uneducated kids who laugh at the expense of others. It’s difficult for a youngster to be empathetic because they don’t even know what it means. So they barely even comprehend the damage they are doing to another person. I remember when I was in elementary school, and we had a deaf child in our grade, and he could not speak. I remember just about every kid in our class, except for one or two students, treated this kid the same as everyone else, and even more so when he did well in a game during gym class or got a good grade on a test. We would cheer for him, and we were happy to do it. Why? Because we were told in school and at home that a def student would be joining our school and that we were going to treat him like everyone else and even help him out when he needs it. We learned sign language so we could communicate with him. This doesn’t happen in every school. Quite the contrary, most schools would bully and “make fun” of that kid where he now has to go home crying, breaking his families heart for the pain their son has to go through. Life is tough enough, and natural problems occur daily. We need to make our kids aware of more “adult” type issues so they can understand the effect people have on one another.