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Health and Wellness

An Open Letter To The Bullied

Be the influencers.

Wesley Bryant

Aug 31, 2016

Harding University

The Telegraph

I have always written books and stories since I was in the second grade. I've always been someone to want to create emotion. I think I was born a storyteller. But as I have grown older, there are new things around every corner: middle school, high school, college, and the "real world." As a college student with a book and novel published, I feel like I'm doing things I've always wanted.

More and more people read my work from Odyssey articles to novels, but with more eyes comes more criticism (and not the constructive kind). I've had people make fun of me, laugh at me, and tell me I'm not good enough.

"You'll never be enough." "You'll never be successful."

Yeah, right. Let me tell you something...

Maybe going for your goals is dangerous, but that makes it fun. Maybe you'll stumble... but who hasn't? If you're gonna let someone (even yourself) hold you back, then how will you ever have fun?

If you have ever had someone like that in your life, someone that wants you to stay still... it's because they are the unsuccessful ones. For some reason, people like to bring other people down. Human nature? I hope not. Human nature is wanting more. Human nature is striving for your goals, even the scary ones.

I'm here to tell you to set your goals high and then go beyond that.

"A professional is just an amateur that didn't quit." -- Richard Bach

So don't quit!

Even if that bully is yourself, don't let anything stop you.

Be the culture creators.

Be the influencers.

With love,

Wes

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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An Open Letter To The Bullied

Be the influencers.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

1. You get excited when the parents purchase season passes to the pool.

2. You've become friends with the stay-at-home moms in town.

3. You get a chance to eat "kid foods" again.

4. You've traded in your cute purse for a large tote bag.

5. You have at least one car seat in your backseat.

6. Their nap time is your happy time.

7. Lunch time can be a disaster.

8. You have to play the same board games repeatedly.

9. You catch yourself using the same lines your parents once told you.

10. Your "mom-mode" kicks in at times.

11. Your heart melts a little when they do something cute.

You'll never find any souvenirs with your name on it

1. You know you are up next when the teacher pauses while taking attendance

2. When “I’m going to do my very best to make sure I know all your names” is said, it may or may be an empty promise

3. “Wow! That sounds so cool! Where is your family from?”

4. You dread when people ask you to repeat your name over and over because it “sounds so cool when you say it”

5. There’s a 50/50 chance that your name will come back either correct or incorrect at Starbucks

6. People try to find shorter, easier nicknames for you instead of calling you by your actual name

7. When someone famous or fictional character shares your name, you get so happy

8. “What’s your name?” “It’s [name]” “I’m sorry, what was it again?”

9. You’ve pretty much seen every misspelling and heard every mispronunciation of your name throughout your life

10. When you find another person with an “ethnic” sounding name, you both get excited

11. Despite the struggles, your name is pretty unique… just like you

Can I be excused for the rest of my life?

Don't Be That Person

1. “Oh, so you/your family are immigrants!”

2. “Is Puerto Rico near Mexico?”

3. “Do you speak Puerto Rican?”

4. “You look too light/dark to be Puerto Rican.”

5. “Do I need my passport to go to Puerto Rico?”

6. “Geez, you are obsessed with your flag. We get it, you’re Puerto Rican.”

7. “Why are you so loud?”

8. “So does your family know English?”

9. “Oh my god, Puerto Ricans are so spicy.”

10. “So did you eat a lot of tacos?”

11. “Are you Mexican?”

Love hard, every day, and never be ashamed.

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