Everyone wants to be popular. We want to be liked;
to feel important. Our first glimpse of following the leader or the crowd is
while in elementary school. There are the popular kids and then there are the
kids that we think are geeky or nerdy. We sometimes base our opinions of others
on appearances, how someone dresses, their weight, or even how they talk.
As children, we are exposed to our first
experiences of what teasing is all about. Engaging in teasing is one way of
feeling as though we are accepted. After all, if the popular kids see us
teasing others, then, they won't focus on us, right?
Teasing is a form of bullying. We can all recall
times when we were either teased or bullied about the way we looked, acted or
talked? Or maybe you were the person doing the taunting?
Have you ever witnessed someone being teased or
bullied? Did you intervene or did you look away? It is tempting to follow the
crowd because we want to be accepted.
No one likes to be mistreated. Fear, low self-esteem,
sadness, insecurity, anger, and confusion are some of the emotions that surface
when we follow the crowd. We allow other people's opinions to rule us to the
extent that we are willing to participate in negative harmful behavior.
Take charge of your life. Make whatever changes
are required. If you don't, negative behavior will carry over into adulthood.
Don't allow others to mold you. Learn to stand up for yourself. Instead of
following the leader, be a person of integrity; be the leader.
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