bullying personal experience essay

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My experience of being bullied.

Ever since primary people had always bullied me because I was from another country. I had no friends and everyone isolated me. I cried and cried but I could not find the courage to tell my parents. The teachers ignored me and did not do anything to support me. Soon it got worse and I was blamed for the things I never did. The teachers did not believe me because my bullies acted differently in front of the teachers than they did with me. Several years later I found the courage to tell my parents where they took action and the police was involved in this too. The bullying had stopped but new people started to bully me too. They made fun of my name called me names made fun of my personality and the way I spoke people also laughed at me and pointed at me. I was always picked last on sport teams despite being good at sports. I would even get isolated and people would ignore me.

People called me retarded but when I told the teachers they got attention from other people and somehow even though I was the victim it was put against me. Rumors were spread about me and nobody was there to support me except my parents. Eventually everything ended as I moved schools in another town to a school where I had actually became popular and had lots of friends. But everything ended once again as everyone moved their separate paths in Secondary school.

I had started in a class which I liked and where I had two friends. But then I was moved to another class for whatever reason I cannot remember. I had made friends with two girls but they eventually found a better friend and started ignoring me and isolating me even spreading rumors about me and laughing at me. I accidentally came upon a friend when I was picked for a school team. She sat beside me and we had a good conversation. From then on as time began to pass we became best friends and would do everything together there was even a time where I had forgotten all of my pain and misery and I was actually starting to enjoy life.

But life did not go so smoothly. Problems came upon me and I made several mistakes in my life once of those where my haters took the advantage over my life. The only important and special person I had in my school was my best friend she was always there for me when I needed her. But eventually my haters came up with a plan to separate us and to leave me all alone in the shadows. By that time I also started to fail my exams and had personal problems I was lost in the world. My biggest mistake yet was to ask my friend for space. I did not want her to follow my footsteps the only thing I wanted for her was to have a good time and to be popular and to make a path for her own self instead of following me everywhere. Rumors were spread about me by my haters and my best friend had taken a liking upon them. I tried fixing my mistakes by apologizing to her but that wasn’t enough my haters would always interfere and she had no time to have a proper talk with me anymore.

But I too wasn’t a saint and I was friends with her ex best friend her enemy but that was only because she left me no choice. I accidentally told her enemy something I shouldn’t have and she got in trouble for it. But she managed to forgive me and we became friends again. But time went by and she started to ignore me even when I was nice to her. Strange occurring also took place in the school. My book had gone missing and someone had wrote my name all over the school furniture. I confronted her but she replied in a way in which I was convinced it was her but she had also hurt my feelings.

I had done my best to look alright through the time she ignored me and hurt me. Day and day again she would ignore me and walk off with my haters. My haters would brag about all the good times they had and how they were becoming best friends. One day I heard two boys calling out my name. They told me that my friend had called me bad names. I was very convinced therefore I confronted her and told her I did not want to be her friend anymore..I even told her I would tell the whole school of her secret but honestly deep within I was never planning to do that. I just felt so hurt being ditched by a person who meant so much to me. My hater pretended to be the hero and told me to never do this to any of her friends or else. My hater told on me and so did my friend.

The principal investigated and found out it was my hater who said those mean things…I asked her to explain to my friend. But she probably explained for her own advantage. I was going to apologize to my friend the following week but I became ill and was not able to attend school. Upon coming back I had discovered that my best friend had teamed up with them completely and they had even had so many great times. In school I do not have any friends and I can call myself a loner. I wish this did not happen and I wish everything was how it used to be but life does not flow smoothly. Upon facing deep depression and hatred from people I eventually started focusing more on school and my after school life. I had joined several clubs outside of school and I took a huge liking to studying.

Eventually little by little I had managed to recover although facing depression and hatred from people I had managed to start sticking up for myself and being able to look on the bright side of life. Life is sure unfair sometimes but there is always a chance for tomorrow. Life is not about failing and falling it’s about being able to stand up and to try again no matter how many times it takes to achieve something. Practice makes perfect and hard efforts are always rewarded.

I may be a loner in school and I may have no friends but that does not mean I have no friends outside of school. I always find something to do when I have nothing to do in school. At break I sometimes tend to study in a classroom. Everyday at break time I go and buy lunch and sit with people. After eating I organize my locker. Sometimes I help out a teacher with errands around the school and things as such. I also like to read books. Although my life is not the best I am very grateful to myself for being able to be there for myself. No matter how tough life gets I will always have the courage to endure it. It’s not always about friends and popularity. It’s about yourself and being able to be who you truly are. I will never give up and I shall always strive to try my best and no matter how long it takes I will always keep trying until I succeed for that is my way of life.

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Best Bullying Essay Examples

Personal experience about bullying.

1012 words | 4 page(s)

As Sharp et al. (107) support, bullying is a situation whereby an individual uses strength to force someone to do an action (Sharp et al., 107). This paper will explore a personal experience about bullying to clearly illustrate what bullying is all about. I walked down the school halls with my head low staring at the ground. I was anxious as fear ran all over my body expecting to hear the sarcastic words again. A long time ago I used to think that a school is supposed to be somewhere where a student will go to have fun and be relaxed as learning process takes place but that wasn’t the case. The halls are raged with memories that will haunt me forever. And when I think of the bullying situation I faced it makes me feel that am at the wrong place at the right time.

“You are fat; you look like an elephant!”. These are the words that keep on rushing through my mind and the fear is kicking in again. A box, a simple box I thought that’s all I needed to hide from everyone. I go home to a strict diet regime that never seemed to work. The shape of my body made me be popularly known in the whole school. My classmates, of course, respected me and some of them even feared me because they thought I was strong enough to tease them. Any time I passed near a junior class all I received was abuses from the senior class members. The senior schoolmates that I found in that school never gave me humble time to enjoy my time in school. I went through hell and embarrassment. Anything I tried to oppose subjected me to a beating and they all took it that I was trying to behave rudely to them because of my body size.

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I remember there is a day I stepped on one of the seniors shows while walking towards my classroom. The student squeezed my neck making me chock like for five minutes. He then crowned it by giving me a heavy slap on my back and shouted fat big! Use your eyes. All I heard was laughing sound from the surrounding classes as some of the students stretched their necks outside through the window to look at me. As I proceeded to my class I the teacher on duty saw me and called me. “It seems you do not have something constructive to do that is why you are bouncing around” he quoted. I wish he knew how troubled I was. “Go and clean the staffroom right now”. That is how I was subjected to a punishment. As young as I was in the staffroom cleaning seats and shelves while other teachers were looking at me made me feel embarrassed.

I never enjoyed my moment in school at all. Sometimes I ever looked at myself and imagined how the senior students used to tease me, making fun of my body, and calling me names and I felt I was at the wrong place. It really affected me mentally and I longed to change my learning institution. As Orpinas et al. (213) support, school bullying makes a number of students to affect their academic performance, increase loneliness and change their eating habits (Orpinas et al., 213). I felt that I should just be alone and always being almost doing the opposite thing as others did to see whether I can even eat. I was traumatized and even missing meals because of stress. When a senior student saw one of us passing all you could hear is “Hey! Come here and do me this”. Sometimes you will even be called for nothing for them to see whether you are obedient to them.

School diet was also another issue that made me lose hope on eating the required food. Food was served at the dining hall during lunchtime hour where each table hard five to six members. Break-time tea was also served to us but that was a little bit fair because I could pick the quarter slice loaf of bread directly from the cook. The seniors were allowed to take their meals before us. When our time comes all we could access is food remaining’s. It was hard to fill your stomach and get satisfied as well. Since there was no otherwise I had to eat the remainings. The seniors had no time to do their manual works instead bullying did its part in making us work for them. I had started to define what slavery was. Sometimes I could go to the school shop buy some foodstuffs for consumption but arriving the dining hall, the foodstuffs become publicly shared without my approval. The actions are supported by the statement “the school culture is always like that. No way a young individual can see an elder individual starving and yet the young individual expects to be protected from any harm and danger”.

Time to go home was another terrible moment. I tried to imagine how my senior students could make me carry their bags and other stuff as they freely walked home while playing and made me frustrated. While still carrying their bags they could again try to send me to pick for them either snack from the shop or anything they needed. One by one they will pick their bags from me as they branched to their homes. I hated being what I was at that time and even feared to tell anybody about my condition since I feared they will beat me again and again. And that is how I ended up in stress and lost my weight till now that am regaining. More fear was that I was the only one passing through all these bullying actions, my classmates also used to complain as others even cried due to pain and anger.

• Orpinas, Pamela, and Arthur M. Horne. Bullying prevention: Creating a positive school climate and developing social competence. American Psychological Association, 2006.
• Sharp, Sonia, and Peter K. Smith. School bullying: Insights and perspectives. Routledge, 2002.

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My bullying story and how I overcame it…

My name is Stephanie, I’m 16 and I have a bullying experience I would like to share as I would love to inspire and help young people through traumatic times. I was bullied for 3 years by five boys. In my opinion, bullying is disgusting but it continues to be in life hoping to destroy people’s lives when in fact it makes them stronger. So, here is my story…

I was only 12 years old when the bullying first started, however, I did not reach out and tell someone until I was 13 years old. In Year 7 it was mostly verbal bullying. I was called ‘fat’ constantly and had jokes made about me. By this time, I thought it was the worst it could have been, but I was wrong.

 I was then physically bullied, the leader of the bullies punched me on my left arm, he left a bruise and he kicked my leg and left a bruise as he “wanted to” because it was “a joke”. I kept this to myself as I thought it won’t happen again. My mum had noticed the bruises but I had claimed that I “walked into a door” and I had “hit my leg on the table”. I finally found the courage to tell my mum about the bruises. My mum and grandmother took me down to the school into the LSC (Learning Support Centre). I then became intimidated, as his friends called me a snake and a grass. The boy was isolated for one day to see if his behaviour had changed. However, the next day him and his friends lined up to push me on the floor. I have never felt so embarrassed in my life.

The comments about being fat also hadn’t stopped. Due to the verbal comments I developed an eating disorder which again no one had acknowledged as I was scared incase the bullies called me a snake for speaking up.. As I felt the bullying was becoming worse I told my teacher how I had an eating disorder and she replied “next time I won’t call my friends fat as they might have anorexia”. I became so resistant to food that when I had bought something from the canteen I would throw it in the bin. I remember having a film day in school as a treat and the boys persuading me to see who could eat the most and if I won they would leave me alone therefore I decided to go ahead with the idea.. Obviously, I had anorexia so never ate anything and they had noticed that and continued to bully me.

 Two police officers had arrived at my home to speak to me whilst taking a detailed descriptive report of incidents to dates. By this time, I was frightened of how the bullies may react. The next day the boy and I were taken into an office in the school to give a statement. It had gotten to this point as my head of year had not put a punishment in place. Therefore, I began to lose trust in most adults in my school. The boy didn’t care about the police as within that week he began to kick my chair constantly.

All of the physical, verbal and mental bullying became too much as I decided to take a blade in school from a sharpener and self-harm on my arm. At this point I was so depressed that the matter of life and death didn’t occur to me. After I put my school shirt on for school my mother noticed the cuts and finally that’s when I opened up to her about everything.

When it came to GCSE options I wanted to pick drama however the bully did so I never took the opportunity. However, I became aware of a group called Raised Voices which was an Arc Theatre project. I was scared of how it would be because by this time I lost all my confidence.  I was able to be in films whether it was a minor or major part and talk about issues including bullying. We vote for a young female in the group every other term to be able to win a Jack Petchey award titled outstanding achiever. This year I won the majority of the votes and was given the award. This to me is an absolute achievement which I believe is because of my efforts in the group. I was given challenges and remained strong throughout and that’s why the award makes me realise how proud I should be.

With the support from my family and Arc Theatre I built up the courage to express my thoughts on my bullying experience. The only way I could begin to help myself through the pain was by writing poems with meaningful words. Now I can do more than write poems, I can find my voice within me and tell people how much I have overcome and tell them how strong I am.

Bullies never win when you stand up and say no. I proved that theory right. With the help of my supportive network of friends and family, I am proud to say I am stronger than I ever knew I could be!

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Bullying: A Personal Story

The psychological consequences of bullying..

Posted May 11, 2012

• How to Handle Bullying
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I recently went to see the new documentary Bully and came out feeling that the movie needs to be seen by as many people as possible – particularly preteens, teens, parents (even of very young children), teachers, and school administrators. In this entry, I will discuss the aspects of the movie that most concerned me, both as a parent and as a human being; one who was horribly bullied throughout almost all of her school years, even, sometimes, by otherwise well-meaning friends. Throughout the course of this entry, I will reveal rather personal things – mostly to help reach out to others who went through similar experiences, but also as a method of exorcising my own demons.

Three of the stories central to the film deal with what would seem to be extreme reactions to bullying . Tyler Long committed suicide after years of persistent bullying. We aren’t talking about a shove or being tripped in the hallway – his peers literally called him worthless and told him to hang himself. So one day, at the tender age of 17, Tyler heeded their advice and hung himself in his bedroom closet. 11-year-old Ty Smalley also committed suicide because he was being consistently tortured in school. We also see 14-year-old Ja’Meya Jackson who is awaiting a hearing after she brandished a gun on her school bus against a group of kids who were also relentlessly bullying her (the charges were subsequently dropped, but the judge orders her hospitalized for a period of time). Ja’Meya was not a troublemaker; in the movie, her mother proudly displays her various sports trophies and medals, and describes her as a good student. But one day she snapped, and her reaction could have had severe consequences for the many children involved. All these cases hit close to home. I was each of these kids. While the outcome was very different in my case, it doesn’t erase the fact that, when I was 17, I both tried to commit suicide and almost severely hurt a classmate due to the constant physical, mental, and emotional abuse I endured in school (and at home).

I was always overweight, quiet, studious, and wore glasses. In 2nd grade a boy stabbed me in my thigh with a sharp pencil; I still have the little blue dot as an enduring souvenir. I was teased, pushed, threatened, beaten. In the 8th grade a girl grabbed me around my neck and banged my head against the wall while I left the classroom to go to the bathroom. In high school I was teased on a daily basis because I did not conform to traditional gender stereotypes: I had no interest in doing “girlie” things and was branded a lesbian as a consequence. I remember lying in bed one night contemplating if my peers were right – what if I were gay? I didn’t think I was, since I had always liked boys, but maybe they were seeing something I did not. The idea terrified me – had I been gay I would have been undoubtedly ostracized amongst my family. I would have most certainly been treated like another teenager in the movie, Shelby, whose family was shunned after she came out as a lesbian and who experienced cruel bullying from other students and teachers as a result. Years later, what concerns me is not the possibility that I were gay, but that I was so scared at the thought of being gay. I cannot imagine the pain that gay teenagers experience every day of their lives; adolescence is hard enough without having to worry that the very core of your being will be so derided and hated by others. The experience was painful, but it has forever opened my heart, and honed my compassion, toward homosexual youths and adults.

One day, during my senior year of high school, a boy who had been bullying me for the past two years started verbally abusing me for the umpteenth time that week. I was having a particularly bad day, and remember quietly warning him that he should walk away and leave me alone. He taunted me in response. I snapped. I took the heavy wooden chair I was sitting on and threw it at him; the chair missed him by inches and ended up in pieces against the classroom wall. I then chased him and almost choked him until a few of my friends grabbed me and held me back. All I can remember is how badly I wanted to hurt him; I didn’t want to just trip him or give him a scratch or a bruise – I wanted to hurt him badly enough that I may have caused permanent damage. I could have ended up in vast amounts of legal trouble. I had never before been as irrational, and never since. I am forever grateful to my friends for preventing me from hurting him. I am not a violent person, and never once got in any trouble my entire academic career . But every human being has her breaking point. Ja’Meya had hers; I had mine.

Sometime that year I tried, obviously unsuccessfully, to commit suicide. Years of bullying at school and physical, mental, and emotional abuse at home led me to this very dark, despairing, place. I just wanted to sleep. I wanted to have one day when I didn’t feel any pain; one day when I didn’t feel like a worthless human being. I understand what Tyler and Ty felt, the anguish that led them to take their lives. I wish their suicide attempt had mimicked my own (i.e., that they had been unsuccessful), and now, as a mother, I cannot imagine the pain their parents are suffering. Like many of these children, my parents did not know I was being bullied and neither did most of my teachers. Of the ones that did notice, they turned a blind eye. In fact, some of them participated. I remember one teacher who told me, upon learning that I had been admitted to college, that the university in question must had lowered their standards.

When a parent hits, chokes, and verbally torments a child, we (rightly) call it abuse. When a kid does it to another kid, we dismiss it as a “normal” part of childhood . Victims of bullying are often told to “man-up” or to develop a thick skin, as if it is their fault for daring to be effected by years of demeaning treatment. It is a similar phenomenon to how we talk to our girls about rape – we spend too much time telling them how not to get raped, rather than teaching our sons not to rape. Similarly, instead of teaching our children the requisite compassion and care that may lead to a decrease in bullying, we deride the victims for taking it too personally, for not standing up for themselves, or for being weak. I think this treatment can be partially attributed to a lack of knowledge about the nature of bullying in this day and age, and a lack of understanding of its deep-seated effects. The psychological and emotional repercussions do not end when school does; the scars run deep and can carry into the child’s adult life. This is far truer now than it was when I was a kid, since social networking has made it so a child has little respite from bulling. At one point in the movie, 12-year-old Alex tells his mother that his primary coping mechanism for dealing with being bullied is to rid himself of emotion altogether, and that his impulse is to become a bully himself.

What is imperative for adults to understand, parents and teachers alike, is that what is going on is not just random and sporadic teasing. Kids are dangerously threatening each other; in the film, one boy tells Alex that he’s going to cut his face off, and another tells him that he’s going to break his Adam’s apple. Shelby was so alienated in her community that students wouldn’t even sit next to her at school. And her teachers, the very people who were supposed to care for her while in school, were condemning her to hell in front of the other students due to her sexual orientation . Bullying in America has become a microcosm for the hate, prejudices, violence, and fears that permeate so much of the adult world. We hate homosexuals, Muslims, Jews, Caucasians, Blacks, and Hispanics because they represent “the Other,” the outcast, the people we want exiled from our communities. What utterly puzzles me is that whenever this behavior takes place in the “real world,” it is generally reviled (as it well should be). When it happens in schools it is dismissed. Yet children, given their age, mental development, and emotional vulnerability, are the ones most at risk for long-term psychological maladjustment as a result of such treatment. In other words, we are essentially ignoring, and in general refusing to allay, some of the most detrimental abuse possible. The fact that the perpetrators are children themselves does not ease the problem, or render it less serious. On the contrary, the fact that people so young can be capable of such cruelty reveals another side to the bullying issue not often addressed: what is the mental and emotional state of a child who beats, threatens, and emotionally tortures another? Bullying claims, at the very least, two victims: primarily, the child being bullied, but also the character of the bully himself. The philosopher Aristotle wrote in his Nicomachean Ethics that one way to cultivate character traits is to repeatedly perform actions that manifest those traits. If one wants to become an honest person, one must consistently tell the truth; if one wants to be a compassionate person, one must consistently act in a compassionate manner. The same, of course, goes for vices. Bullies, therefore, consistently act in ways that humiliate, frighten, and hurt others. The character traits that are likely to arise from repeatedly acting in this way are nothing short of concerning.

Is bullying an inevitable consequence of going to school and growing up? I suppose that some amount of teasing is to be expected. Even the adult world is full of bullies; there will always be people who are drunk on their own power and take advantage of the weaker and most vulnerable. But I do believe that a lot of bullying can be curbed – and doing so requires a joint effort on behalf of parents and school employees alike. Parents are their children’s first, and most important, moral educators. It is our job to teach them compassion, selflessness, integrity, and to instill in them the importance of helping, rather than exploiting, the vulnerable. School employees must understand that what is going on in between their walls is nothing short of child-on-child abuse; just as teachers have a moral (and in some cases legal) responsibility to report child abuse to the proper authorities, there should exist a similar responsibility here. We cannot monitor every child’s actions, but we can implement some severe consequence for the students who do get caught bullying, and we can help schools become a safe place for the victims, rather than a place of incessant dread.

My suicide attempt failed. I grew up. Went to college. Went to grad school. Got married. Had a wonderful, beautiful, child. I am a respected member of my university community. I was lucky. Tyler and Ty could have done great things. We could all do great things if we really want to. It is too late for them, but it isn’t too late for our children. We can help save victims from their bullies – and in doing so save bullies from themselves.

Bertha Alvarez Manninen is an assistant professor of philosophy in the Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies at Arizona State University.

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Articles & Advice > College Admission > Blog

How to Write About Bullying in Your College Essay

Bullying is a sensitive subject you may feel isn't good for your college essay, but here's how and why it could be a great application essay topic for you.

by Kim Lifton President, Wow Writing Workshop

Last Updated: Sep 27, 2023

Originally Posted: Nov 10, 2020

October was National Bullying Awareness Month, and although it has come and gone, anytime is a good time to address such an important issue and answer a question we get asked often: Is it okay to write about sensitive topics like bullying in your college essay? Of course it is. You can write about bullying, coming out, political opinions, death and loss, depression, anxiety, drugs, religion, or any other sensitive topic in your college essay. In fact, you can write anything you want as long as you have a good reason for doing so. But let’s focus on bullying and the ways you can comfortably and impactfully address the topic.

Telling your story

To be effective in your college essay—no matter the topic—you must answer the prompt, show insight, and share something meaningful that colleges might not learn elsewhere in your application. Here are two questions to help you decide if writing about a topic like bullying will work for you:

• Why are you telling this story about bullying?
• What do you want colleges to take away about you after reading your story about bullying? 

Let me give you some context. A few years back, I worked with a young woman on a package of college essays for multiple schools. She chose to tell a story about bullying to answer the fourth Common Application essay prompt : Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.  

This was the perfect prompt for her topic; she wanted to share something about herself through a challenge she had experienced. She wrote a beautiful story about teaching a five-year-old camper how to handle a bully, connecting to her camper because she was also bullied during middle school. Her story showcased problem-solving skills, kindness, and empathy. 

Related: Mental Health: What It Is and How You Can Find Help  

What her essay did right

This student’s story highlighted growth and learning related to her own experience being bullied. To write her story effectively, she focused on what was learned, not how she was forced to learn it, and how she used what she learned to help one of her campers confront her own bully. In her story, she:

• Answered the prompt
• Showed insight
• Shared something meaningful to her
• Highlighted a positive trait or characteristic  

This student explained in gorgeous detail what the problem was that she cared about (teaching a camper how to cope with a girl who was mean to her) and how she helped solve the challenge (helping the camper ignore the mean girl). The key to this successful essay: She didn’t focus on the bullying; instead, she focused on her personal growth and problem-solving skills—something she learned through her own experiences back in middle school. This showcased to admission officers that she learned a lot from a difficult time in her life when she faced insecurities while hanging out with people who were mean to her. And she had grown significantly from that hard time.

This student got into her first-choice college (a highly selective public university) with a fabulous application that included a personal statement focused on a topic that some well-meaning adults might call too sensitive or controversial.

What to keep in mind as you write your college essay

As you make decisions about your own college application essay topics , consider that no topic is off limits if you handle it appropriately. And as you begin the process, always keep in mind:

• What you’re writing about: A story about you (not about bullying or any other controversial topic)
• Who you’re writing for: College admission representatives
• Why you’re writing it: 1) To illustrate something meaningful about yourself; 2) To demonstrate how you think; 3) To help admission officers round out your application package; and 4) To show that this college is a good fit for you and vice versa

Your essay should also be:

• Specific : Don’t write about your entire summer working on a construction site. Choose an important moment or other small piece of that experience, then demonstrate why that moment matters.
• Clear : Speak in your own voice. Don’t try to be funnier, smarter, or more creative than you actually are. Make sure you sound like you .
• Direct : Say what you mean in plain language. This ties back to “don’t try to sound smarter.” Throwing in fancy vocabulary you’ve never used before will only sound inauthentic.
• Unique : Even if your experience seems mundane, the fact that it happened to you makes it unique.

Related: What NOT to Do in Your College Application Essay

Focus on your traits and not just a topic

Too many students get hung up on the topic of their college essay long before they’re even ready to start the application process . They look for huge topics they think will attract attention or activities that might lead to stories, and they devote a lot of time talking about their experiences and accomplishments. That’s why college essays seem so difficult. Students start in the middle without even knowing they skipped the first part of the process.

Have you been thinking about what makes a great topic? Because bullying or coming out or similar subjects are only good topics if you can reflect on them. Do you think you know what you’re going to write about? If so, slow down. What do you want colleges to know about you if you did get bullied? Did it change you? Have you learned anything from that bad experience? Take two steps backward if you plan to start your college essay with a certain situation in mind. Instead, focus on a few traits and qualities that make you great. How would you describe yourself?

• Are you kind? Funny?
• Are you resourceful? Curious?
• Are you industrious? Patient?
• Are you compassionate? Competitive? 

Determine what your best qualities are and how you want to highlight them, then choose a topic or experience you believe will allow you to do just that. Think about my student, the young woman who taught a camper how to face a bully. She knew how because she had been bullied herself. She’s resilient. She’s a problem-solver. She’s mature—and so very kind. If you follow this advice and put the topic aside while you focus instead on your own traits and characteristics, you’ll hit your college essay right out of the ballpark.

Related: Now Is the Time to Start Your College Essay

The college essay is a hurdle all applicants have to face, and students are often afraid to touch on sensitive topics—but it’s absolutely okay as long as you remember your end goal: sharing something with the admission committee that will show them who you really are and why you belong at their school. Focus on what you learned about yourself from the hard experience you want to write about and how it made you grow, and college admission counselors will surely see you for all you’re worth.

For more expert advice on how to write your best college essay, check out our College Admission—Application Essay Clinic section.

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About Kim Lifton

Kim Lifton is President and Co-founder of  Wow Writing Workshop , which teaches students and educational professionals a simple, step-by-step process for writing effective college essays so they can stand out and tell their stories. Kim supervises a team of writers and teachers who understand the writing process inside and out. Since 2009, Wow has been leading the college admissions industry with their unique approach to communicating messages effectively through application essays, including personal statements, activity and short-answer essays, and supplements. From Farmington Hills, Michigan, Kim is also a board member of the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling.

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• PACER.org/bullying

• What is Bullying?
• Are You A Target?
• Do You Bully?
• How Can You Help?
• Join the Cause

Personal Experience with Bullying.

I have personal direct experience with bullying as a teenager in middle and high school. I was bullied by the same small group of boys. I have been also bullied in the work environment by fellow adults and coworkers. In my own experiences, those in authority who could have and should have done something about it and should had held those responsible for bullying accountable for their behavior and bullying, disrespectful and abusive actions did not do so or refused to do so and often brushed the problem under the rug and tolerated such behavior. I tend to blame too many people found in a postition to do something about preventing bullying from continuing to happen and holding those responsible for bullying, refusing to do so and having a tendency to ignore such issues and not responding to them all or respond in a way that makes matters worse. From my own experience they often ignore the issues when presented to them and tend to not respond at all and do not handle the issue with bullying at all. So the victim is often frequently victimized, which has a long term damaging affect and impact on them. Often those who bullied me in the past was because I was unique and different from them, in a good way and often because I allowed it to happen, by not responding correctly to the bully and by not standing up for myself even when others crossed me or violated me and my personal boundaries in any fashion, including mild forms of disrespect. When I was younger I had tend to be a quite, reserved, shy person, who often kept my feelings and problems to myself and had low self esteem and lacked in confidence. I was often soft spoken and did not talk to much and often kept to myself. Today as an adult in my 40’s I tend to be more vocal, outgoing and outspoken, courgeous, bold, tougher and stronger, candid, frank and straightforward and have no problem standing up for myself and tell the truth and taking a stand, including standing up for my convictions and beliefs. I also may be perceived by bullies today as someone not to mess with. I also have learned to discern and read people better and be better at elevating others character. I have always been one not to conform to the crowd and follow the majority and tend to do what I believe is right. I am also a soft hearted, kind, caring, tender person, the exact type of people who often get mistreated the most and hurt easier and get mistreated the worst. However, I have to thank all those who have bullied me in the past, because they helped make me a much stronger person and to have a much better understanding of myself and how much power I really do have. Today I stand up to bullies, when I used to remain silent , I now speak up! I will not only speak up on my behalf I will also speak up on the behalf of those who are victims of all types of bullying, since I know first hand what it is like to be bullied. I have had the opportunity to speak to young people about bullying and have shared my own personal story with them and I will continue to do so.

5 Essays About Bullying

There have always been bullies, but in more recent years, society has become more aware of the impacts of bullying. With the rise of the internet and social media, cyberbullying has also become a serious issue. In 2018, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported that ⅓ of young teens worldwide recently experienced bullying. Overall, boys are at a higher risk than girls – 32% compared to 28%. However, in countries with the most incidents of bullying, girls experienced more. Bullying can drive young people to suicide, self-harm, and other tragic consequences. Here are five essays that shed light on the issue:

“The Origins of Bullying”

Author: Hogan Sherrow  | From: Scientific American Sherrow opens his guest post on the Scientific American blog with the story of Jamey Rodemeyer. At age 14, the teen posted messages online describing the pain he endured from bullying and then took his own life. Sadly, this is not uncommon. In this 2011 essay, Sherrow explores why people bully others. Where does this type of behavior come from? To address bullying effectively, we need to understand the roots of bullying. He first defines bullying and presents evidence that bullying is something found in every culture. Sherrow describes it as a “part of the human condition.” Things take a turn into other species as Sherrow asks the question, “Is bullying unique to humans?” Based on research, bullying-like behaviors are found in other animals, including other primates.

This essay presents interesting scientific research on the root of bullying and how it’s evolved in humans. Hogan Sherrow is an assistant professor of anthropology at Ohio University and the director of the Hominid Behavior Research project.

“Instagram Has a Massive Harassment Problem”

Author: Taylor Lorenz | From: The Atlantic This essay opens up with the story of someone who experienced Instagram harassment. At age 14, Brandon joined Instagram to share about his life and rare condition. Soon, he was bombarded with hateful messages, including death threats. It ruined his high school experience. Brandon’s story is just one of countless others where people – often very young teens – are bullied through Instagram. The platform does not have a good track record on monitoring or addressing the bullying. This contrasts sharply with the polished image it projects and markets itself with. While sites like Youtube and Twitter have had bigger dealings with harassment, Instagram seems like an oasis for the internet. What is it doing exactly? According to users who have faced horrific threats, not much. Author Taylor Lorenz is a former staff writer for The Atlantic.

“Shame and Survival”

Author: Monica Lewinsky | From: Vanity Fair Bullying often occurs in a bubble, like a middle school or a social media site, but for Monica Lewinsky, the harassment played out on a much larger scale. In 1998, the 24-year old became the center of a presidential scandal. There were countless jokes made at her expense. Even while Bill Clinton emerged relatively unscathed, the shame followed Lewinsky for years. In this feature from 2014, she recounts her experience with public humiliation, how difficult it was to move on, and the concern she feels for young people today as cyberbullying becomes so prevalent. The essay is a great example of the long-term impact of humiliation on a national scale. Monica Lewinsky is a TV personality, former fashion designer, speaker, and social activist.

“Bullying In the Age of Trump”

By: Emily Bazelon | From: The New York Times Published in November 2016, this op-ed takes a brief look at how bullying evolved with the election of Donald Trump. The Southern Poverty Law Center tracks harassment and hate speech. Since President Trump’s election, they’ve reported a surge in bullying incidents. What this teaches us is that while bullying is always around, it can increase based on what’s going on in the culture. When someone who exhibits classic bullying behavior is put in a position of power, it sends the message that their behavior is acceptable. Emily Bazelon is the author of “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy” and a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine.

“Bullying has an impact that lasts years” 

By: Anita Sethi | From: The Guardian Written in recognition of Anti-Bullying Week, this piece describes the author’s personal experience with bullying and its lasting effects. As a child, Sethi experienced physical and emotional bullying. How bullies use language can be the most hurtful. The first thing they often do is take a victim’s name, so dehumanizing them is easier. Years after the bullying, a person’s mental health can suffer lasting consequences. What can be done? Teaching empathy is key. Anita Sethi is a writer, journalist, and contributor to Three Things I’d Tell My Younger Self.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Bullying

Argumentative Essays on Bullying

Understanding and addressing the issue of bullying is of paramount importance in today's society. Choosing the right essay topic can make a significant impact, not only in your academic journey but also in raising awareness about this critical issue. This webpage is designed to assist college students in finding diverse and engaging essay topics related to bullying. Remember, your creativity and personal interest can contribute to meaningful discussions and solutions, so let's begin!

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to take a stance on an issue and provide evidence to support your position. Here are some bullying-related topic examples:

• Should cyberbullying be considered a criminal offense?
• Is zero-tolerance bullying policy effective in schools?
• How does bullying affect the mental health of victims?

Introduction Paragraph Example:

Bullying, particularly in the digital age, has evolved into a pressing concern that demands our attention and action. In this argumentative essay, we will delve into the contentious issue of whether cyberbullying should be deemed a criminal offense. By examining the psychological and emotional harm it inflicts on victims and the potential legal implications, this essay will advocate for a stricter stance on cyberbullying.

Conclusion Paragraph Example:

To conclude, this argumentative essay has demonstrated the urgent need for legal measures against cyberbullying. By recognizing its devastating impact and the potential consequences for perpetrators, society can take a decisive step towards curbing this digital epidemic and ensuring a safer online environment for all.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays involve examining the similarities and differences between two aspects of bullying-related subjects. Here are some topic examples:

• Compare and contrast the effects of cyberbullying and traditional bullying on victims.
• Contrast the approaches to bullying prevention in different countries.
• Compare the psychological profiles of bullies and their victims.

In the realm of bullying, there exists a wide spectrum of approaches and consequences. This compare and contrast essay will explore the distinct effects of cyberbullying and traditional bullying on victims. By examining the methods, impact, and prevention strategies associated with these two forms of bullying, we can gain valuable insights into the complex issue of bullying.

In conclusion, this compare and contrast essay has shed light on the differing dynamics of cyberbullying and traditional bullying. By recognizing the unique challenges each presents and the corresponding prevention measures, we can develop more targeted strategies to address these harmful behaviors effectively.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays aim to create a vivid picture of a subject through detailed and sensory-rich language. Here are some topic examples:

• Describe the emotional toll of bullying on a victim.
• Portray a school environment where bullying is eradicated.
• Illustrate a scenario where empathy and kindness triumph over bullying.

Step into the world of emotions and experiences as we embark on a descriptive journey to understand the profound impact of bullying on a victim's life. Through intricate details and sensory imagery, this essay will transport you to the heart-wrenching reality faced by those who are bullied.

In conclusion, this descriptive essay has painted a poignant picture of the emotional turmoil that bullying inflicts on its victims. By shedding light on the human suffering caused by bullying, we hope to inspire empathy and motivate actions that lead to a kinder and more inclusive society.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays aim to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or argument. Here are some topic examples:

• Convince educators to implement comprehensive anti-bullying programs in schools.
• Persuade parents to be more involved in identifying and preventing bullying behaviors.
• Argue for the importance of educating students about the consequences of bullying.

Educators, parents, and policymakers, it's time to take a stand against bullying. In this persuasive essay, we will present a compelling case for the implementation of comprehensive anti-bullying programs in schools. By examining the long-term benefits and the potential reduction in bullying incidents, we aim to persuade you of the urgency of this matter.

To conclude, this persuasive essay underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive anti-bullying programs in schools. By prioritizing prevention and education, we can create a safer and more nurturing environment for students, ensuring that they thrive academically and emotionally.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays tell a story and often convey a personal experience or life lesson. Here are some topic examples:

• Share a personal experience of overcoming bullying and the lessons learned.
• Write about a moment when bystander intervention made a difference in a bullying situation.
• Describe a school's journey in transforming its culture to eliminate bullying.

Life is a journey filled with challenges, and in this narrative essay, we will delve into a personal experience that revolved around the issue of bullying. Through the lens of this impactful story, we will uncover valuable lessons learned and the transformative power of resilience and empathy.

In conclusion, this narrative essay has highlighted the transformative journey of overcoming bullying and the importance of bystander intervention. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire others to stand up against bullying and create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Engagement and Creativity

When selecting a bullying essay topic, allow your passion and creativity to shine. Your unique perspective can contribute to a deeper understanding of this issue and inspire positive change. Each essay type offers a distinct avenue for exploring bullying-related subjects.

Educational Value

Each essay type serves a purpose and helps you develop different skills:

• Argumentative essays enhance your analytical thinking and persuasive writing skills.
• Compare and contrast essays sharpen your ability to critically analyze and organize information.
• Descriptive essays improve your skills in using vivid language to convey emotions and experiences.
• Persuasive essays develop your ability to persuade and motivate action.
• Narrative essays allow you to share personal experiences and convey important life lessons.

Consequences of Bullying in Schools

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The Impact of Social Media on Bullying Among Children

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The Importance of Bullying Awareness and Prevention

Bullying: a psycho-legal study, the importance of being aware about bullying, do schools do enough to prevent bullying, the reasons why the community needs to start up against bullying, the issues of cyber bullying, bullying: a serious problem that needs to be fought against, we should all pitch in to stop bullying, cyberbullying: problem and solution for children, an informative bullying, its causes, effects and ways to tackle, the problem of bullying in modern society, features of short term and long-term effects of bullying, my elementary years and the bullying that came with them, discussion on the issue of bullying and cyber bullying, bullying and harassment in the workplace, implementation of zero-tolerance policy in schools to stop bullying, cyberbullying: history and causes, negative effects and solutions, the impacts of bullying on people in "the kite runner", bullying prevention: implementing anti-bullying programs in schools, the harm and effects of cyber bullying.

Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate.

Bullying is a subcategory of aggressive behavior characterized by the following three criteria: (1) hostile intent, (2) imbalance of power, and (3) repetition over a period of time. Bullying is the activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt another individual, physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Bullying has been classified into different types. These can be in the form of nonverbal, verbal, or physical behavior. Another classification is based on perpetrators or the participants involved, so that the types include individual and collective bullying. Other interpretation also cite emotional and relational bullying in addition to physical harm inflicted towards another person or even property. There is also the case of the more recent phenomenon called cyberbullying.

Bullying can cause loneliness, depression, anxiety, lead to low self-esteem and increased susceptibility to illness. Bullying has also been shown to cause maladjustment in young children, and targets of bullying who were also bullies themselves exhibit even greater social difficulties. A mental health report also found that bullying was linked to eating disorders, anxiety, body dysmorphia and other negative psychological effects, or even suicide.

In the US, 1 in 5 students ages 12-18 has been bullied during the school year. Approximately 160,000 teens have skipped school because of bullying. More than half of bullying situations (57%) stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied. 6th grade students experience the most bullying (31%). The most commonly reported type of bullying is verbal harassment (79%), followed by social harassment (50%), physical bullying (29%), and cyberbullying (25%).

1. Brank, E. M., Hoetger, L. A., & Hazen, K. P. (2012). Bullying. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 8, 213-230. (https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-102811-173820) 2. Rettew, D. C., & Pawlowski, S. (2016). Bullying. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 25(2), 235-242. (https://www.childpsych.theclinics.com/article/S1056-4993(15)00117-0/fulltext) 3. Craig, W., Pepler, D., & Blais, J. (2007). Responding to bullying: What works?. School psychology international, 28(4), 465-477. (https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0038928) 4. Fekkes, M., Pijpers, F. I., & Verloove-Vanhorick, S. P. (2005). Bullying: Who does what, when and where? Involvement of children, teachers and parents in bullying behavior. Health education research, 20(1), 81-91. (https://academic.oup.com/her/article/20/1/81/632611) 5. Einarsen, S. (1999). The nature and causes of bullying at work. International journal of manpower, 20(1/2), 16-27. (https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/01437729910268588/full/html?fullSc=1&fullSc=1&mbSc=1&fullSc=1&fullSc=1&fullSc=1) 6. Farrington, D. P. (1993). Understanding and preventing bullying. Crime and justice, 17, 381-458. (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/449217) 7. Smith, P. K. (2004). Bullying: recent developments. Child and adolescent mental health, 9(3), 98-103. (https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1475-3588.2004.00089.x) 8. Rigby, K. (2003). Consequences of bullying in schools. The Canadian journal of psychiatry, 48(9), 583-590. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674370304800904)

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This powerful essay about a painful childhood memory got a student into 14 colleges including Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton

We all have memories from our childhood that we'd likely rather forget. Sometimes it's those very same painful life lessons that have the most lasting impact on your world view.

Recent Harvard University graduate Soa Andrian used one of her childhood memories as a jumping-off point on her college admissions essay.

She told the story of a visit to Antananarivo, Madagascar, where she has relatives, and of an impending incident of bullying. A deeply personal story, at first she was going to write about something a little less private.

"My original common app essay was about a poster presentation I made at a summer program and what I learned about being less shy," Andrian said via email to Business Insider. "But it felt disingenuous. I think it felt disingenuous because I wrote what I thought admissions committees would want to see — a little humility by sharing an insecurity, but a small one that ultimately was easy to overcome."

Ultimately, she wrote about her more personal experience, and it certainly paid off. In addition to Harvard, she gained acceptances to Brown University, UChicago, Columbia, The University of Florida, Johns Hopkins, the University of Miami, MIT, Northwestern, UPenn, Princeton, Rice University, Stanford, and WashU.

Andrian's other impressive stats are included on her Admitsee profile . AdmitSee is an education startup that has 60,000 profiles of students who have been accepted into college with their test scores and other data points for prospective students to browse.

Andrian graciously shared her admissions essay with Business Insider, which we've reprinted verbatim below.

Four boys stood above me on a pile of garbage. Their words, "Bota, bota, matava" — "chubby", "fatty" suffocated me:

A familiar sensation of frustration and hurt gripped me. Looking for defense I only saw a cinderblock at my feet, impossible for my eight year old body to heave, so, I screamed in English:

"You are just jealous that you are poor and I am American!"

As the words flew out of my mouth, I knew I was wrong — there was no sense of triumphant satisfaction. I abruptly turned and ran into the refuge of my aunt's home.

Related stories

Upon finishing a tearful narrative to my aunt and father, I preferred the comfort of the former's arms. I avoided my father's disappointment: I knew as well as he did, that I was not the victim.

Later, my hysteria subdued and guilt temporarily forgotten, I ventured outside to explore the crevices of Antananarivo. The boys were still playing atop the rubbish, then seeing me, scrambled off their mountain and ran in the opposite direction.

It's okay, I thought, I wouldn't be a fan of me either.

As I began walking up the street, I heard shouts:

"Wait, wait!"

The boys caught up to me and proudly waved hundred ariary bills in my face. In their broken English, they said in earnest and without malice,

"Look! We are not poor! We have money! We are Amreekan too!"

I agreed they were right and smiled sadly: one US dollar was the equivalent to seven thousand Malagasy ariary.

I was made sharply aware of what separated me from these children: oceans, experience, money. Politics, ignorance, the apathy of millions. Ironically, it was also the first time I belonged to my "motherland". I could share in the simple joy of relishing what "is", be proud of the sense of resourcefulness engendered by scarcity.

This memory has woven itself into my philosophy and my dreams. The very personal knowledge that millions live in a way such that electric toothbrushes are an unfathomable luxury (my cousin, Aina), has given me the following personal rules:

• Education is an opportunity, not a burden;
• You always have enough to share.

While I may not be certain of my future, I know for certain that I want to serve. I realize that service is as important an aspect of education as is academic work. I know this passion will follow me throughout my life and manifest itself in my actions at Harvard. This memory is a mandate to serve indiscriminately and without prejudice towards those I work with. I am all the more willing to cooperate to bring improvement to the community within the College and beyond the campus. I can bring innovation in problem solving born out of the deep desire to help others. I work for these boys, for all the proud Malagasy (and even those who are not proud to be Malagasy), and the children who cherish "what is" instead of mourning "what could be".

Watch: Asian-American groups are saying that affirmative action hurts their chances to get into Ivy League schools

• Main content

Essays About Bullying: 12 Ideas For Students

Explore these 12 ideas for essays about bullying to find inspiration for your next writing assignment.

Bullying is on the rise in today’s society, and it can create an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. This problem is complex, making it a good candidate for essay topics.

According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, one out of every five students reports being bullied. Bullying can happen at school, on the school bus, and even via a student’s phone. However, this behavior is not limited to schools. Bullying can happen in the workplace and the general community and affects people of all ages.

The problem of bullying is not easy to solve, but it is an important matter of human rights. Bullying essays will discuss everything from causes of bullying to solutions. If you need to write an essay about bullying, consider some essay topics. For help with your essays. check out our roundup of best essay checkers !

1. What Contributes to the Rise of CyberBullying

2. why cyber bullying is worse than physical bullying, 3. bullying in schools: are bullying rules effective, 4. is bullying a school issue or a parent issue, 5. the impact of bullying on student academic achievement, 6. how cell phones make bullying into a growing problem, 7. my personal experience as a bullying victim, 8. my personal experience as a bully, 9. what workplace bullying looks like, 10. the impacts of bullying, 11. is bullying an attempt to increase low self-esteem, 12. explore the different types of bullying.

Cyberbullying is a serious problem for today’s parents. Comparitech performed a survey of 1,000 parents to discuss bullying, and 60% of the respondents indicated their children were victims of bullies. One-fifth occurred through social media apps, 7.9% through online video games, 6.8% through other Internet sites, and 11% through text messages. This indicates that bullying behavior shows up through technology regularly.

There are many factors leading to this increase. Increased media use, the isolation and online nature of life during the pandemic, and less parental involvement are just some of these factors. Your essay can explore what contributes to this rise so that parents can understand the risk their children face.

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that is very invasive. Children and teens cannot get away from their bullies when they are victims of bullying through phones and computers. This makes the bullying more intense and dangerous for some students than when they have a face-to-face bully at school that they can leave behind at the end of the day.

To a bystander, in-person bullying seems more dangerous, but the friends and family members of the victim can’t always see the internal emotional struggle caused by cyberbullying. Your essay could establish that cyberbullying has a more intense effect on bullying victims than other types of bullying. Then, use the essay to support your thesis with statistics and relevant facts.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about cyberbullying .

No school advocates bullying, and most have anti-bullying rules that are supposed to protect students from the effects of bullying. But are these effective? This essay lets you explore what does and does not work to fight bullying in schools.

Suppose you find that some things effectively fight to bully, but other rules are not; you can discuss why. Then, you can give guidance schools can follow to help reduce bullying behaviors.

There is much talk about bullying in high school and elementary school classrooms, but is this an issue for schools to address or parents? Is it a combination of both? This thought can give you a good direction for your bullying essay as you expound on whether you think bullying is an issue for parents or schools to address.

As you research this topic, you will likely conclude that it is both. Then, you can delve into how parents and schools can work together to create anti-bullying programs that effectively reduce aggressive behavior and protect victims. With a cooperative approach, communities often see better success as they work to stop bullying.

Is bullying just a social issue, or does it affect students’ learning ability? According to the American Psychological Association , school bullying is directly linked to lower academic achievement. This means it is both a social issue and an academic issue.

In this essay, you can discuss why bullying affects students academically. You can also look at whether this is a long-term effect or a temporary one. Does the educational impact of bullying stops when the bullying stops, or does it continue through the child’s educational years? These questions have complex answers, making them good topics for your bullying essay.

Increased cell phone use among adolescents is why cyberbullying is on the rise. Your essay can explore this trend by drawing a correlation between cell phone use by children and teens and increased bullying statistics.

For example, in 2013, 19% of third graders had their cell phones. In 2017, that increased to 45%, more than double. Interestingly, three-quarters of the third-graders who exhibited bullying behaviors carried cell phones. You can explore this link more in-depth and suggest limiting bullying and unwanted cell phone activities to help protect children. You might be interested in these articles about racism in schools .

Have you been the victim of a bully? If your essay is personal, you can transform your bullying experience into your essay topic. Make sure that you tie in how your bullying experience helped or hurt you and what you learned from it.

In your essay, don’t be afraid, to be honest. Did your experience as a bullying victim make you stronger or more compassionate? Were there some benefits in addition to the challenges? Dive into these ideas to make a compelling essay.

Everyone makes mistakes, and it may be that you weren’t the bullying victim as a child but the bully. You could create an essay out of this by exploring why you exhibited this aggressive behavior, and you could discuss what made you change.

Be careful with this type of personal essay. You want to be clear that you do not support bullying of any sort but that you were able to learn from your past mistakes. Show how you have grown and improved since your childhood and what you are doing now to help support anti-bullying efforts.

Much of the discussion about bullying focuses on young people, but workplace bullying also happens. Your essay could discuss this form of bullying and how it shows up in a group of employees. This type of bullying is often more subtle than the type seen in middle school and high school classrooms, but it can significantly impact the overall feeling of the workplace.

After looking at how workplace bullying appears, you can also discuss how this form of harassment impacts workers and their mental health. You can end the essay by discussing bullying prevention initiatives employers can implement to limit these behaviors, so workers can feel safe when they clock in each day.

Bullying impacts people in many ways. It can lead to low self-esteem and poor mental health and damage academic performance or workplace effectiveness.

Build an essay around the impacts of bullying. Weave many statistics into the essay that show how hurtful it is in today’s society. Consider the long-term effects and the short-term ones in your essay, and use it to show why the problem of bullying is such a serious one.

When a child is bullied, you often hear well-meaning teachers or parents tell them that the bully is simply eating because they have low self-esteem, and taunting or name-calling makes them feel better about themselves. Is this true? You could explore this as your essay to determine if it is.

Research has shown that it is less a sense of self-esteem and more a sense of shame that leads to bullying incidents. When a young person does not live up to their standards, they feel shame, and that shame can cause them to lash out at others so that they can share the shame. This negative behavior takes attention away from the parts of them they feel shame about, which can significantly lessen the feeling of shame.

Bullying is not limited to sending mean text messages or teasing. It can take many forms , and discussing these can make an interesting essay. Explore each, and then discuss their impact on the victim and why the many types make bullying a challenging problem to solve.

Verbal bullying occurs when people call other people names or tease and taunt them. Physical bullying involves hitting, punching, pinching, or pushing the victim. Social or relational bullying is a more covert form that happens behind the back of the victim, including spreading rumors about them or making mean faces at them. Cyberbullying involves bullying using computers, phones, or other electronic devices.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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Expository Essay

Expository Essay About Bullying

How to Write an Expository Essay about Bullying: A Guide

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Need to write an expository essay about bullying?

Bullying is a problem that affects millions of people around the world, particularly in schools. It can be incredibly damaging for both victims and perpetrators, leaving lasting physical, mental and emotional scars.

Writing an expository essay about this important issue is a good way to spread awareness and cope with its effects. But what if you don't know where to start?

Don't worry! This blog will help you out!

In this blog, you’ll learn about expository essays, how to write them, and some tips for making a successful essay.

So let's get started!

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

• 1. What is an Expository Essay About Bullying?
• 2. Expository Essay Examples on Bullying
• 3. Steps to Write the Best Expository Essay
• 4. Expository Essay Topics About Bullying
• 5. Tips for Writing an Expository Essay About Bullying

What is an Expository Essay About Bullying?

What is an expository essay?

An expository essay is a type of essay that explains, describes, discusses, and informs about a specific topic.

An expository essay about bullying aims to explain or inform the reader about an aspect of bullying.

It typically involves research and data as well as personal experience and opinion. It requires clear language and logical structure in order to present a comprehensive view of the topic.

The goal is to present factual information in an organized way and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions.

Expository Essay Examples on Bullying

Reading bullying essay examples can be a great way to get some ideas and inspiration for your own work.

Here are a few good example essays you should check out before writing:

Short Expository Essay About Bullying

What is Bullying in School Essay Example

Essay About Bullying 500 words

Expository Essay on Cyberbullying

Expository Essay About Bullying in School

Want to read essay samples on other topics? Check out expository essay examples .

Steps to Write the Best Expository Essay

Writing a successful expository essay about bullying requires several steps.

Step 1: Select a Topic 

First, you should select a specific and manageable topic to research. For example, you might choose to write about bullies in high school or cyber bullied teenagers.

Note that your topic must be interesting, relevant, and specific. Moreover, you need to be sure that it has enough information available for research.

Step 2: Research and Gather Evidence

Second, you need to do your research and gather facts and evidence. Consider both primary and secondary sources such as newspapers, books, magazines, websites, interviews, and surveys.

While researching, take notes on the most important points so that they are easier to reference when writing your essay.

Step 3: Write an Outline

Before you start writing, create an expository essay outline . This will help you organize all the information and keep track of your ideas as you develop them further. 

A standard 5-paragraph structure should be enough, although more depending on the complexity of the topic is acceptable.

Step 4: Write the Essay

Now it 's time to put everything together and start writing. Start with an introduction that should grab the reader's attention and explain why this topic is important. 

Next, move on to the body of your essay, which will include several paragraphs discussing different aspects of bullying in detail. 

Finally, write a conclusion that summarizes the main points of your essay and provides closure.

Step 5: Edit and Proofread

A well-written essay should also be edited and proofread for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. 

Make sure to read it over several times and make adjustments as necessary. Revising your paper will help ensure that your paper is clear and thorough.

Expository Essay Topics About Bullying

If you’re looking for a few good expository essay topics about bullying, here are some ideas to get you started:

• The Different Forms of Bullying.
• The Psychological Impact of Bullying on Victims.
• The Connection Between Bullying and Mental Health.
• The Consequences of Bullying on Academic Performance.
• The Impact of Bullying on Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence.
• Strategies for Preventing Bullying in Schools.
• The Long-Term Effects of Bullying on Adult Life.
• The Influence of Parenting in Preventing Bullying Behavior.
• Bullying in the Workplace: A Growing Concern.
• Legal and Ethical Aspects of Bullying Prevention in Schools.

You can get an idea from expository essay topics on other topics as well.

Watch this video about what is bullying:

Tips for Writing an Expository Essay About Bullying

Expository writing can be difficult, but with a few tips, it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips that you should consider when writing an expository essay about bullying: 

• Keep it organized

Writing an expository essay can be overwhelming if you don't keep your thoughts and information organized. Having an outline is a great way to make sure everything stays on track.

• Be specific 

A successful expository essay must be specific and provide enough detail for the reader to understand the topic. Avoid vague generalizations and stick to well-defined points.

• Use clear language 

Writing an expository essay requires strong communication skills, so be sure to use concise and straightforward language when making your points.

As the goal of an expository essay is to inform rather than persuade, it's important to have a neutral stance. Don't let your personal opinions or biases affect the way you present information.

• Be sympathetic

Bullying is a sensitive topic, so it's important to be sympathetic and understanding when discussing it. 

Empathize with people who have been affected by bullying and try to portray their experience accurately.

• Provide solutions 

An expository essay should not only provide facts but also offer potential solutions to the problem. Make sure to include ways that people can prevent or stop bullying.

To conclude the blog,

Writing an expository essay about bullying can be a challenging yet rewarding task. With the right preparation and research, you can create a thoughtful, informative piece that will inform readers about this important issue.

Unable to write your own essay due to some reason? Consider hiring a professional essay writer.

At MyPerfectWords.com, we provide the best custom essay writing service that ensures quality, originality, and timely delivery.

Our expository essay writing service has experienced writers who are ready to write a custom essay according to your requirements.

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Bullying Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on bullying.

Bullying refers to aggressive behavior so as to dominate the other person. It refers to the coercion of power over others so that one individual can dominate others. It is an act that is not one time, instead, it keeps on repeating over frequent intervals.  The person(s) who bullies others can be termed as bullies, who make fun of others due to several reasons. Bullying is a result of someone’s perception of the imbalance of power.

Types of bullying :

There can be various types of bullying, like:

• Physical bullying:  When the bullies try to physically hurt or torture someone, or even touch someone without his/her consent can be termed as physical bullying .
• Verbal bullying:  It is when a person taunts or teases the other person.
• Psychological bullying:  When a person or group of persons gossip about another person or exclude them from being part of the group, can be termed as psychological bullying.
• Cyber bullying:  When bullies make use of social media to insult or hurt someone. They may make comments bad and degrading comments on the person at the public forum and hence make the other person feel embarrassed. Bullies may also post personal information, pictures or videos on social media to deteriorate some one’s public image.

Read Essay on Cyber Bullying

Bullying can happen at any stage of life, such as school bullying, College bullying, Workplace bullying, Public Place bullying, etc. Many times not only the other persons but the family members or parents also unknowingly bully an individual by making constant discouraging remarks. Hence the victim gradually starts losing his/her self-esteem, and may also suffer from psychological disorders.

A UNESCO report says that 32% of students are bullied at schools worldwide. In our country as well, bullying is becoming quite common. Instead, bullying is becoming a major problem worldwide. It has been noted that physical bullying is prevalent amongst boys and psychological bullying is prevalent amongst girls.

Prevention strategies:

In the case of school bullying, parents and teachers can play an important role. They should try and notice the early symptoms of children/students such as behavioral change, lack of self-esteem, concentration deficit, etc. Early recognition of symptoms, prompt action and timely counseling can reduce the after-effects of bullying on the victim.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Anti-bullying laws :

One should be aware of the anti-bullying laws in India. Awareness about such laws may also create discouragement to the act of bullying amongst children and youngsters. Some information about anti-bullying laws is as follows:

• Laws in School: To put a notice on the notice board that if any student is found bullying other students then he/she can be rusticated. A committee should be formed which can have representatives from school, parents, legal, etc.
• Laws in Colleges: The government of India, in order to prevent ragging , has created guideline called “UGC regulations on curbing the menace of ragging in Higher Education Institutions,2009”.
• Cyber Bullying Laws: The victim can file a complaint under the Indian Penal Code .

Conclusion:

It is the duty of the parents to constantly preach their children about not bullying anyone and that it is wrong. Hence, if we, as a society need to grow and develop then we have to collectively work towards discouraging the act of bullying and hence make our children feel secure.

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The Issue of Bullying in the Schools Essay

Personal experience, forms, effects and recommendations of bullying, works cited.

This paper attempts to look at the issue of bullying in the schools. A personal story about how I was bullied when I was young is included. The paper looks at this issue by considering aspects like causes and forms of bullying as well as examples of bullying cases.

Since the number of bullying cases has been on the increase in schools, recommendations will be offered on the best thing to do when bullying cases are reported. Main ideas on the topic will be presented so that the issue can be presented in a comprehensive way (Smith, Pepler, and Rigby 56-60).

I grew up in south Bronx until I was thirteen years old when we moved to an Irish neighborhood. My brother and sister are half Irish and half Puerto Rican, unlike me; my whole family has a very fair skin. The first time I landed on this neighborhood, I was very delighted since unlike our previous home I could play outside the house.

I still recall what befell me the first time I went out to play; all the children in the neighborhood were white and the girls started harassing me by telling me that if I was hoping to live there I had to be white, they even spread baby powder on my face. We later become friends although some of their parents resented me because I was Spanish. The situation did not get any better since some children nicknamed me Goya bean: this made to hate Goya beans

When summer ended, I joined school and it so happened that I was the only Spanish girl in the whole school. Things did not go well here either since I picked fights frequently because other children teased me. At some point, it became a routine that I had to be involved in a fight everyday. The principle took the initiative of calling my mother to discuss the matter. When my mother came, she was told that I was a problematic child since I frequently fought with other children.

The board of directors claimed that with my stubborn nature I deserved to be taken to a special school where other problematic children studied. Since then, I was regarded as a problematic child. My mother was forced to transfer me to another school since I was expelled from my former school. I developed low self-esteem and I started taking drugs, soon afterwards I dropped out of school at sixth grade.

This victimization made me to start thinking of ways that I could change my way of life to show that I was still strong hence prove to my aggressors wrong. The events acted as a motivating factor for me to make a difference. Each time I feel like giving up my efforts of trying to be what I want to be, I look back and remember all the challenges that I have overcome in my life.

This makes me to realize that I have much more challenges to face and overcome; thus I become a stronger person. Every time I look back, I do not regret what I have gone through since it is through these chain of events that I have become what I am today.

One thing that I am proud of is that I managed to turn anger into motivation. Nevertheless, I must admit that these experiences left me with a scar since when one is a victim of bullying he or she is tempted to believe that something is wrong with them one asks questions like ‘why me?’ Bullying kills one’s self esteem and also makes one to feel isolated.

The victim may fear or feel ashamed to tell anyone since he or she may think that this has never happened to anyone else. It gives me joy to know that the issue of bullying is now a pubic affair since bullying stories were unheard of when I was growing up. It is also important to note that children are no longer afraid to report bullying cases.

Slavens and Kerrigan (23) see bullying as a term used to describe a pattern of behavior that is cruel and humiliating towards another person, he further notes that it can affect people of all walks of life and age.

Bullying can occur in two forms, verbal and physical. One can be bullied verbally when the bully attempts to verbally anger the victim by mocking them on purpose. Physical bullying occurs when the bully or aggressor forces physical contact with his or her victim, this may be in form of kicking or punching to the point that the victim becomes submissive.

Physical bullying is more serious as compared to verbal bullying since it can lead to serious injuries and sometimes death of the victim (Orpinas, Horne, 12-34). Bullies enjoy intimidating others to either gain fame or to satisfy their ego. Teenagers may bully others due to peer pressure since they may want to fit in a certain click. Factors that can lead to bullying include differences in physical and cultural characteristics; in addition, showing signs of inferiority can also be a major cause of bullying.

This vice has many effects on the victim. Since the bully has control over the victim, the victim can become stressed to the extent of becoming depressed. Most victims of bullying have low self esteem since they do not feel self-sufficient. The victim can also develop negative attitude towards the environment and the people around him.

Such a person may isolate him/her self from the rest of the world because of a feeling of inadequacy. School children who have been bullied may drop out of school or start taking drugs so as to seek consolation (Field, 211-250).

Teachers should be strict when dealing with bullies. Heavy punishment should be given to the aggressors so as to prevent them from repeating the act again and to also warn others not to repeat the same mistake in future. Victims of bullying should be encouraged to report to their seniors if they are bullied.

It is important for the teacher to diagnose any physical and psychological problems affecting the students. Schools and other institutions should set up advisory centers where students can be helped to overcome the aftermath of bullying. These centers should have friendly counselors so that students can feel free to discuss their problems with them (Slavens and Kerrigan, 12). The counselors should also be well trained so that they can offer professional help to the victims.

Bullying is the act of humiliating others either verbally of physically. A bully is the aggressor who undertakes bullying. Although bullying is common in schools, it can also occur in other settings such as the workplaces. It is important for the school administration to come up with ways of dealing with bullying cases such as punishing the bully heavily. People bully others for different reasons such as the need to feel superior. The vice bears negative impacts to the victim to the extent that it can be verbal.

Field, Tim. Bully in sight: how to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying: overcoming the silence and denial by which abuse thrives . New Jersey: Success Unlimited, 2000. pp. 211-250

Orpinas, Pamela, Horne, Arthur. Bullying prevention: creating a positive school climate and developing social competence . MI: University of Michigan, 2006. pp. 12-34

Slavens, Elaine and Kerrigan, Brooke. Bullying: deal with it before push comes to shove. Toronto: James Lorimer & Company, 2003. pp. 12-30

Smith, Peter, Pepler, Debra, and Rigby, Ken. Bullying in schools: how successful can interventions be? Ontario : Cambridge University Press, 2004. pp. 56-60

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IvyPanda. (2019, October 25). The Issue of Bullying in the Schools. https://ivypanda.com/essays/bullying/

"The Issue of Bullying in the Schools." IvyPanda , 25 Oct. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/bullying/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'The Issue of Bullying in the Schools'. 25 October.

IvyPanda . 2019. "The Issue of Bullying in the Schools." October 25, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/bullying/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Issue of Bullying in the Schools." October 25, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/bullying/.

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IvyPanda . "The Issue of Bullying in the Schools." October 25, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/bullying/.

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Student Opinion

What Is Teenage Bullying Like Today?

An Opinion columnist writes that meanness among teenagers hasn’t gone away, it’s just gotten more stealthy. Do you agree?

By Natalie Proulx

Have you ever watched an old high school movie — say, “Mean Girls,” “The Breakfast Club” or “Clueless” — and been shocked by the insults the teenagers in the film hurled at one another? Did they use names and terms that you and your friends wouldn’t dare use today?

If so, do you think members of your generation are nicer to one another than those of previous generations? Or is bullying just different now?

In the Opinion essay “ ‘Mean Girls’ Has Lost Its Bite. Girls Haven’t ,” Jessica Bennett writes that while teenagers today are more aware of the importance of inclusivity, they still aren’t as kind as the new “Mean Girls” musical movie makes them seem. Instead, thanks to technology, teenage torture has become more subtle:

Passive aggression isn’t just “No offense, but” before delivering a stinging insult. It’s a soft block (blocking, then unblocking on social media, so that the person no longer follows you and then wonders why) for just a hint that you’re mad or removing people from a close friends group on Instagram, so that they can no longer view your Stories — but without ever telling them, so they are left to wonder what happened. People get dropped from group chats or are abandoned as new ones are started. Stealth meanness can be as covert as tagging someone in an unflattering photo or as clever as posting a celebratory birthday post for your bestie — but one that’s purposely less effusive than the one you posted for your other friend. “The phones make everything more exclusive,” said Poppy, 13, of New York. “When people leave others ‘on read’ even for a little” — she’s talking about having a text sit unanswered — “it can hurt the other person’s feelings even if that’s not the intention.” Hearing about the unwritten rules of today’s cafeteria dynamics made me almost pine for the simplicity of “you can’t sit with us.” A teenager in Michigan told me she unfollowed a classmate on Instagram because the girl had liked what she posted too quickly. It was “too thirsty,” she said. Another teenager, in Maryland, explained how a former friend would use their text chats as a way to constantly shift from hot to cold — acting friendly at school, then leaving her texts unanswered, then texting all night in minute-to-minute flurries, then ghosting her for days on end, leaving her on her phone and in her feelings, ruminating ( something girls are more prone to ) on the unanswered messages. Emily Weinstein, a social scientist at Harvard who studies how technology is shaping adolescents’ lives , notes that it’s the ambiguity that can make this kind of aggression so much more insidious , leading to a “perpetual state of second- and third-guessing.”

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

Does Ms. Bennett’s essay resonate with you? Have you experienced or witnessed — or maybe even committed — any of the forms of exclusion and aggression she mentioned?

Based on your observations, what is teenage bullying like today? Is Ms. Bennett’s description accurate? Is there anything she missed? If she had interviewed you for this piece, what would you have told her?

Poppy, 13, of New York, said, “The phones make everything more exclusive.” Do you agree? How do phones affect your relationships with your peers, if at all?

Ms. Bennett writes, “Adults and teenagers alike are more aware of the importance of inclusivity and more attuned to the seriousness of subjects that used to be treated as fodder for jokes.” Do you think that’s true? Why or why not?

“Mean Girls,” of course, focuses on girls’ mistreatment of one another. But Ms. Bennett writes that “such behavior is by no means limited to girls.” This article from 2015 states, “It’s no surprise to learn that boys are more likely than girls to use physical aggression, but we also know that boys surpass girls when it comes to attacking peers verbally and engaging in cyberbullying .” Does this surprise you? Or is it true to your experience? Why do you think we view bullying among girls differently from how we view bullying among boys?

How much of a problem is bullying among students at your school? What would you want your parents, teachers, school administrators or other adults to know about it?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx