One of the favorite parts of my job is speaking to classes about how it feels to have a disability and to help people understand what bullying really is. I go back to the class of a special teacher that I had in 5th grade, and now we are friends. I talk to her students about how it feels to be different and to be bullied. Her students ask me questions and I answer them. I tell them are not alone. There are many people all around you in life, and some “You is when you need to tell yourself got the will never understand.” That “You Power” I have always been a fighter but that does not mean that I have not been hurt and wanted to give up. I was born a fighter. When I was born I fought just to live, when the doctors knew that I would make it they gave me a birthdate 3 days after I was really born. All my life was spent fighting – about being different - with doctors, teachers and other friends and even those that did not even know me. Today I value my friendship with each not to be a friend to lots of people; but friend. Sometimes that’s easy. I’d like is that friendship not a one thing I’ve learned goes both ways. It’s job. In school I would be asked to and do someone’s homework, now I see I was just being taken advantage of. I know what it feels like and not fair. I ask myself why? it’s We all want to be accepted into something. Even today some will take me for granted and just pretend to be my friend. Because my heart is so big I want to be friends with everyone. I'm not perfect - no one is. If you are bullying someone or saying something hurtful to them - stop and think. I’ve been there - scared and alone. Some not so easy to fight. days it’s I hope by speaking to classes I help to make a difference by giving students an idea of been through; and encouraging them to get what I’ve involved, to stand up for someone who is being bullied, to not be a bully themselves. Bullying is much easier in with Facebook, texting today’s world and YouTube. Social media has the most impact on bullying. Kids learn technology faster these days, and bullying is even worse because of it. They want to be accepted into the popular social groups. Some bullies know it’s
One of the favorite parts of my job is speaking to classes about how it feels to have a disability and to help people understand what bullying really is. I go back to the class of a special teacher that I had in 5th grade, and now we are friends. I talk to her students about how it feels to be different and to be bullied. Her students ask me questions and I answer them. I tell them “You are not alone. There are many people all around you in life, and some will never understand.” That is when you need to tell yourself “You got the Power” I have always been a fighter but that does not mean that I have not been hurt and wanted to give up. I was born a fighter. When I was born I fought just to live, when the doctors knew that I would make it they gave me a birthdate – 3 days after I was really born. All my life was spent fighting about being different - with doctors, teachers and other friends and even those that did not even know me. Today I value my friendship with each friend. Sometimes that’s not easy. I’d like to be a friend to lots of people; but one thing I’ve learned is that friendship goes both ways. It’s not a job. In school I would be asked to do someone’s homework, and now I see I was just being taken advantage of. I know what it feels like and it’s not fair. I ask myself why? We all want to be accepted into something. Even today some will take me for granted and just pretend to be my friend. Because my heart is so big I want to be friends with everyone. I'm not perfect - no one is. If you are bullying someone or saying something hurtful to them - stop and think. I’ve been there - scared and alone. Some days it’s not so easy to fight. I hope by speaking to classes I help to make a difference by giving students an idea of what I’ve been through; and encouraging them to get involved, to stand up for someone who is being bullied, to not be a bully themselves. Bullying is much easier in today’s world with Facebook, texting and YouTube. Social media has the most impact on bullying. Kids learn technology faster these days, and bullying is even worse because of it. They want to be accepted into the popular social groups. Some bullies know it’s
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