As we all should know, bullying can have a devastating effect on grades and class performance. Here’s how:
Anytime you are a victim of bullying, you are forcibly put on constant alert for an attack. It feels as if you have a target on your back and you must grow eyes in the back of your head. You become hyper-vigilant, which breeds anxiety and leads to exhaustion. Not only is the body tired, but also the mind.
When so much focus must be placed on ways to protect yourself and maintain dignity, safety takes priority over studying lessons. How can one concentrate on schoolwork when they’re constantly bombarded with threats, taunts, name-calling, and physical violence? How can a student study and learn effectively when the mind is tired from being stuck in what seems to be a never-ending fight-or-flight mode? It’s almost impossible!
I can tell you this because it happened to me.
In my book, “From Victim to Victor”, I talk about having been on the honor roll before I began attending school in *Oakley (The school I was bullied in). I also talk about the transfer to *Roseburg High School during my senior year and how my grades skyrocketed overnight! After leaving that toxic learning environment and moving to a new school, my grades went from ‘C’s and ‘D’s to all ‘A’s with maybe one ‘B’. I made honor roll again for the first time in five long years!
Here is an excerpt from my book, “From Victim to Victor”, which explains things a little deeper:
“…when anyone, even the most logical and rational of anyone is under a large amount of stress over a long period of time, the glucocorticoids that have flooded the brain and body for so long will cause the atrophy of areas responsible for memory, emotional regulation and ability to maintain positive relationships…”
Therefore, should it be any wonder that the majority of victims of bullying have such poor grades and class performance?
Second, after being told repeatedly and for so long that they don’t and never will amount to anything, victims begin to believe it themselves. A condition, known as “Learned Helplessness” develops and victims simply stop trying altogether.
In conclusion, bullying can affect ALL areas of a victim’s life. Not just social, but academics and achievements as well.
(*Not the real name of the town.)
Fear and low self esteem fueled by bullies are a deterrent to focus and comprehension. Too many bullied individuals can’t shine in a school setting where bullying is tolerated
Exactly, Janet! 💯 You worded that perfectly! 🎯
Being bullied at school and they may be going home to more bullying and zero support. Breaks my heart.
You’re absolutely correct, Bella! Many targets of bullying are also victims of abuse at home and it breaks my heart too, sweetie 💔😢
😔
From Learned Helplessness to Learned Courageousness. 💪 I can never see nor understand how bullying can be an asset, on no level. “Asses that sets” = Asset! 😝
“Asses that sets…” 😂🤣😂🤣 I love your wording of it! ❤😂❤😂
😅 😂 🤣
What is worse is teachers can exacerbate bullying. Often times, they only think about the low grades and don’t know or ignore the bullying. It can turn into a vicious circle.
Absolutely correct! And it’s sad when the adult who’s there to protect the child only makes the situation worse.
Yes you are very right ,most of the times we have seen bully victims are from from poor grade in study and it’s more pathetic that sometimes teachers also don’t pay any attention to them and those students suffer from inferiority complex. Well shared ☺️🌹❤️ thank you 🙂☺️☺️🌹
You’re so welcome, Priti. And thank you for your kind words of encouragement. ❤💐🌹
My pleasure 🤗🤗🌹 God bless you 🤗🤗🌹❣️