Becoming a Bully Magnet

http://www.newsweek.com/id/162816?GT1=43001

http://www.newsweek.com/id/162816/output/comments

Though this article raises awareness about the characteristics of children who will most likely be the targets of bullies, I think the issue is why is bullying so rampant in America? It is saddening to read all the comments posted here about how they were bullied as kids. The problem should not be to try to stop the victims from being victims but to stop the bullies from taking out whatever problem they have on others. Maybe there are character traits that make an individual more susceptible to bullying, but I do not believe that it is any of your fault for "attracting" the bullies. The root of the problem are the bullies themselves and not the victims, so I think that even if the studies can identify who the potential victims might be, it doesn't do anything to stop this crazed behavior from happening. I hope that all of you who had been bullied as children have found the means to move on from such traumatizing experiences and live happier lives...


(I wanted to post this on the Newsweek website but it's only open to members... The bullying in schools in America is horrifying... there's definitely bullying in Sinapore schools as well but it feels so common here.. that even people whom I know have been tormented in school before... the things they do are so cruel that I don't know if that is a reflection of the nature of this society...)

Around the world...

As some of u know, I've been sick and complaining about how tired I am these days... I truly am exhausted... but u know, I am really happy about school, work (not so much at macy's) and just life in general... my classes are wonderful... my project mates are great and my dance choreography class finally going uphill again... I'm thankful everyday that we have moved out... (my parents definitely share this thought)

I told my mum that i miss Lengkong Tiga... haha... i really do... the bicycle path and just the comfort of my home... all the little things in Singapore I really miss.. think esp the food...

But I never regret coming over here.. I don't know if Darren feels that way about living outside of Singapore... but just the feeling that there's so much in the world to explore... Singapore is indeed too small...

My sister was just making a comment about how I seem so geared up for traveling now as compared to last time... it's true... I do want to see as many places and experience as many cultures as my wallet permits me to... =)

I've always envied Liz, a friend I met in Beijing... she's from England but she has been to so many places and lived with so many people from all around the world... and now I am thinking why can't I do the same? So I've decided to apply for the Boren Scholarship before I leave City College... it's a scholarship to study a year overseas... think it's such a great opportunity...

I would love to go to India with my sister when she goes next year... but really I don't have enough money to make two trips to Asia... so I'll just have to go next time la... I really need to save at a faster rate... My goal is too ambitious, I know, but i really want to make it this time...

Zan asked me if I will come back to Singapore after my studies... well honestly, I don't know... but I do know that Singapore will always be the place I call home since it holds such dear memories of my childhood and teen years... and also because all of u are there... =)

Hopefully moving on....

DIdn't do very well in my dance composition class today... won't want to watch the recording... *tsk*

We are now doing duets... and though my partner is a very nice girl... I think that together we are not adventurous at all... it just feels like a blockage whenever we have to choreograph.. and today we both blanked out during performance... I really don't like this feeling... cos I know I can do so much better...

I'm not saying it's her fault.. it really is not... it's just that we both over-think the assignment and it's not like free moving brainstorming... it's like we both stand there like sticks... just waiting and thinking...

I am so mad with myself cos I know that if I am technically better then I should inspire her to move and not limit myself... which is exactly what I am doing... I thought about it and asked myself why was my choreography this time so ugly and amateur... I think I should have more faith in my partner too and not put boundaries around her abilities... maybe she is able to move much more than she is doing right now... and I probably subconsciously just "simplified" the moves... *sigh* I hope not to repeat the same mistake again... But it's hard... I'm the way I am sometimes... maybe think I'm being accommodating or something... which actually it's a really nasty thought to have...

On the other hand, she is a choreographer too and I don't want to just take over and ask her to do this and do that.. when we should both be able to contribute to a piece...

Even though I get along really well with her, I think that at this time we are not the best combination for this class... we both become too self-conscious around each other... that is just not helping...

The teacher obviously was disappointed... and while there's little I can do about it.. the sucky feeling is still here...

What a day...

I'm in the library now... but what a day so far...

Wasn't able to get on 2 buses and so was late for my class by 15 mins... which is quite a lot considering the class is only 50 mins... *sigh* there was a guest speaker too... I came into class thinking what the hell is happening today? Well, then he asked "are there any questions?" and I was thinking to myself... "ya, er... could you repeat everything?"

Then I went to McDonald's bought my breakfast... spilt my orange juice all over myself...

ARGH...

Then I went to my favourite place (the grass opposite the library) to do my readings... Man, it was such a sad story, I was crying nonstop... used up all my tissue paper... and I didn't notice if anyone was looking but it must have been pretty embarrassing...

Then I went to the library... and met my classmate there, finally introduced ourselves after a month into the class... it was perfect timing... my nose was red and my face looked like I was crying... hahahhaa...

Just thought that all in all my day so far has been pretty hilarious...

Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'll never end...

Just surfing youtube.. and started watching music videos of bands in my pri sch and sec sch days... Steps, Spice Girls, S Club 7, Boyzone, Backstreet boys.... all the music i used to listen to and still actually really love...

It really brings back the memories... some of the videos were just so cheesy that it kinda reminded me of how we were then too... didn't really care how we look... all the crappy hairstyles, T-shirt and waist straight jeans, all the high socks, small backpacks... shaun and leslie used to have matching ones...

All of us have changed so much... i can't go back to how i was then but i'm glad for all that i was... it's times that u can never get back and unlikely to repeat... hey... how likely r we to cheer, boo and scream at the top of our voice at a basketball match against Dunman High...? Ridiculous rivalries but until now, there's this feeling that i don't really like Dunman high... haha... Dance and Girl Guides definitely have a long seeded rivalry... one more was the combined hate of most other classes towards the sports class... haha...

I never liked wearing uniforms... all of them, primary secondary JC... but i somehow still miss them... and knowing that u can never wear them again with the same feelings...

Singing the national anthem during morning ceremony... doing the "attention!...." ya, i can't remember the commands they shout in malay... those in saint john's, ncc, girl guides, boy scouts, boys brigade will probably remember...

Doing morning exercises!!!! hahahaha...

Home econs... DNT.... i was bad at both...if not for Si Jia, I'd burnt all my food... she was my partner...i remember Song Yun made a yo-yo...

Being index number 11 and later 7 (in sec 3 and 4)... Caddie was 12, Si Jia was 13... (i think)...

Friday is ECA (later CCA) day... walking around school and sometimes seeing everyone else in their respective ECAs...

Leslie was trying to get out of choir in sec 1 cos they forced him into it.... think he wanted to go boy scouts.... but it became something he really wanted to do later...

Going to watch everyone's performances... Shaun, QL, Andrew at CDS performances, Leslie, Cliffton, Jasmine, Si Jia, Nga Chi, Yiwei for choir, Allan in EDS, Caddie, Song Yun in band...

It was so silly... but our teachers' day performance at kallang theatre... i think one of the best memories...

Just miss even having to go to the classrooms... dreading the classes that i dread... waking up early in the morning (too early) to go to school... walking to sch with my sister on laughing lane and scared rat way...

Going to swing at sunplaza park... the good memories and er the bad... sara, we got caught for vandalizing there lor...

Wan li chang chen... the super long stairway...

So many memories.... a little by little, they start to fade as new experiences and people come into my life... but some things i'll never forget and I know I will always have a special place for these memories...