A Story Shared by:
Dan P.

Looking back on my high school days in the California central valley, I remember being bullied on a regular basis. I was called a fag, ugly, stupid - basically any word you could think of to make someone feel like they don’t belong. It wasn’t difficult to see why. I couldn’t really relate to the rich kids in my conservative upper middle-class school - my family was poor and I wore used clothes.  Being the only half-chinese, half-black student in my predominantly white school wasn’t easy either. I stood out like a sore thumb every day. I felt like an alien.

I don’t know what I would have done without my parents. I would tell them everything, and they fully supported me. I didn’t realize that this was something special until some of my friends who had also been bullied as students told me that their parents often responded with shock, having no idea how bad it was. For me, home was always a safe haven.  It was exactly what it is supposed to be - a safe environment where I felt confident to express myself openly and honestly. Every day, I shared my day with my parents - both my highest highs and the lowest lows. And each time, my parents made a point of telling me that they loved me. It was simple but amazing. No matter how many difficulties or cruel experiences I faced at school each day, once I got home, I was able to get through them because my parents made a point of making sure I knew that I was deeply loved and supported. I realize today how lucky I was. Not every child has parents that make them feel absolutely certain that they are there for them with open arms, minds and ears. They never brushed my difficulties aside. They never accused me of being the problem. They never reduced my experiences to “kids will be kids.” My parents listened…really listened. They didn’t always have solutions, and that was okay. What was most important was that they were there for me. After sharing with them,  I was always left with a feeling of hope, that there was light at the end of the tunnel,  that my life would without a doubt get better. They were my rock…more powerful than the bullies who tried to rule over me with fear. And because of the strength I inherited from my parents, I was able to get through high school, pursue my dreams and today give back to my community as a Big Brother mentoring several youth.

For me, my parents provided the foundation that enabled me to ultimately achieve victory over violence in my life. I’m determined to honor them by helping the kids in my community struggling with bullies know that they are being heard, are valued, and have great futures ahead of them. One youth at a time, I am helping to build a culture of peace.