Suffering

Many people believe that the crisis students across the country face today is bullying. Magazines and the internet make it easier for people to be exposed to the dangers and consequences. People are too often informed of those who have ended their lives to bullying. But not everyone who has been bullied at point of their lives suffer from depression or lack of self confidence. In fact, very often the passion resulting from bullying(and any type of suffering) results in success and prominence in peoples' lives. 

Before I continue, I should emphasize that I am totally opposed to bullying and ridiculing people for who they are. I believe that bullying is wrong and that Karma will punish those who torment and purposefully create pain for others. Although I am against bullying, I've become aware of many success stories from those who have managed to overcome bullying and have harnessed strength to better themselves. I, for one, have used hateful remarks from others as a means of motivation to prove them wrong;through this process, I have managed to become a better, stronger person.

Many celebrities (not all of whom are adored by everyone) have been victims of bullying. Justin Timberlake, nine-time Grammy winner, is one example. In an interview with Ellen, he states that he was bullied for his interest in art and music. "I grew up in Tennessee, and if you didn't play football you were a sissy." Timberlake later states that "everything that you get picked on or you feel makes you weird is essentially what's going to make you sexy as an adult," Timberlake shows that by disregarding the hurtful words of bullies, he was able to believe in himself and achieve success, and he thinks other kids should do the same.

Bullying is not the only means of suffering that causes people to chase success. In The Glass Castle, Walls achieves a better life through her love of writing. She is able to make a living out of journalism and becomes wealthy. This lifestyle differs extremely to the life she had as a child. Her parents neglected her and she was often left hungry for days. Rather than expressing self-pity, Walls assumes responsibility for herself and becomes determined to become successful. To others, she is seen as "the kind of person who would be eating roasted chicken and those on-fire drinks," and she works hard to find success. In class, we determined that Walls used her past experiences and wrote about them to cope with her life. Her suffering as a child sparked a fire that caused her to have passion and yearning for a better life, which she later finds in her novel.

Suffering, though painful and pernicious, is often also an indirect means to success. Whether because of bullying or neglect, those who find themselves victims can often succor their pain by developing motivation and ultimately achieve a better life for themselves.Those who are capable of enduing pain from their past and using it to become stronger are the successful, happy people today.