Why Kids Bully
I’ve seen friends bullied for what they wear, who they are friends with, what grades they got on a test, or even what version of phone they have. I’ve even seen kids get bullied for things they can’t control, like their name, their heritage, the languages they speak, the size of their nose, their hair, the shape of their eyes, and more.
Well, my name is Hiroshi Pedro Sosa-Nakata and I’ve been bullied for some of the things I’ve mentioned above. The funny thing is though, that these things are things I’m proud of and a bully will never understand that.
Be Proud of Who You Are
My mom is Japanese, my dad is Mexican-American, I was named in honor of an uncle that died, the clothes I wear are what I can afford, the phone I have is an older version that my parents don’t use anymore, and the shape and size of my facial features are what I was born with. I’m proud of every single one of those things. They might be reasons to get made fun of, but for me, they’re things I should be proud of.
I don’t look like everyone else. I don’t sound like everyone else. My name is different than everyone else’s. I am proud to have family in Mexico, Japan, and the USA. The things that make me different are the very things that make me unique.
And, I am unique. One of a kind in fact! I’d rather be that than the same as everyone else. The things that make us unique are not reasons to be made fun of. They’re things we should be celebrating.
How Would You Respond
But, like I said, I’ve been bullied too. Instead of doing nothing though, I decided to tell my story and the stories of other people who are…well…different, just like me. I decided to put my ideas onto paper and the images in my head into drawings. I set out to use my creativity and imagination to create stories that celebrate these differences. I decided to write a book!
I’m super excited to publish my very first book this summer! It’s called, I Saved the World and I’m Only in 4th Grade! It features characters that are each different in some way that would usually make them be bullied in school. In my book though, they’re the main characters!
Dealing With Bullies
If you’re bullied in any way, you have to make sure you reach out to someone you can trust. That might be a friend, classmate, teacher, or parent (especially a parent). In my case it really helped me to write down my experiences with bullying, turn them into reports, and submit them to the principal’s office at school. Below is a video that I created to help anyone deal with bullies.
You Are Not Alone
Remember, that you are not alone. Everyone has been bullied in some way and the key is simply knowing how to respond if it happens to you or someone you know. Here’s some great resources in case you find yourself in such a situation:
Lastly, just remember that bullying may hurt initially. I did for me, but I also found comfort and strength in sharing my experience. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for help, or even share your own story. Who knows, it might make a great topic for a book. Wink. Wink.
Sosa-Nakata Publishing 