Dad Has To Tell His Daughter He Was A Bully At School, Feels So Bad He Apologizes To His Victim 20 Years Later
Most of us have either been the victims of bullies at school or have even been in the shoes of bullies at some point in our lives. Whether you were a bully or a victim, it’s hard to forget what happened, no matter how many years go by.
That’s the moral of one heart-warming story which showed that apologies for having bullied someone really do matter. Even if it takes 20 years to genuinely say ‘sorry.’
When Louie Amundson’s 10-year-old daughter asked him if he’d ever bullied someone in school, he reluctantly said ‘yes.’ This prompted him to get in contact with Chad Morrisette, the person he teased and was mean to back in junior high school. Chad accepted the apology and both he and Louie felt miles better than before, as though a heavy emotional weight were lifted off both their shoulders.
A former school bully apologized to his victim
Image credits: Inside Edition
Stories like this one really help restore (at least part of) your faith in humanity. What’s more, it shows that an apology is important and has the power to start the healing process.
Image credits: Inside Edition
The fact of the matter is, bullying is a complex issue and can’t be solved simply by telling victims to ‘stand up for themselves’ and telling the bullies to ‘stop what they’re doing.’ It’s an issue that requires a lot of hands-on help and understanding that the bullies themselves might be lashing out because of serious problems at school, at home, as well as in their personal lives.
Image credits: Inside Edition
According to ‘Ditch the Label,’ which interviewed 8,850 people, around half of them admitted to having been bullied before their 20th birthday. Meanwhile, 14 percent admitted to having been bullies themselves.
Image credits: Inside Edition
Data shows that bullies are more likely than average to have been victims of stressful and traumatic situations, for example, one of their relatives dying or their parents getting divorced.
It took 20 years for the apology to happen, but it was appreciated very much
Image credits: Inside Edition
It’s up to each and everyone one of us whether we release stress in positive ways (such as exercising or meditating) or in negative ways (such as bullying, smoking, abusing alcohol and drugs).
Here’s a video of the pair reuniting
Image credits: Inside Edition
Bullies also often have low self-esteem, have been victims of other bullies themselves in the past, lack parental guidance at home, or don’t have a firm foundation in their lives.
Here’s what people had to say about bullying
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Still to this day I am effected by the bullying I endured during my school years but I am slowly starting to heal myself. I still don’t like myself but I have learnt a few things in the past year or two. The people who matter don’t care and the people who care don’t matter. I know I am a good person and I now realise that people who are not in my life have no control over me. I am more resilient towards others just not myself lol. I am my own worst enemy.
Foxy, you're not alone - I was bullied for 4 years in a Catholic elementary school where there were only 8 girls in my class - it was 7 against 1, and teachers turned a blind eye. Therapy has helped me realize that it was during these formative years that I established patterns of negative thoughts that effect met to this day. It's only recently that I've been able to learn how to handle my thoughts to not let them completely take over my world.
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So 1 bully apologises to 1 victim. Great. How about all the teachers and principals that kept their eyes closed and mouths shut when they saw the bullying going on and refused to do anything about it? How about all the teachers and principals that still keep their eyes closed and mouths shut when they see the bullying going on and still refuse to do anything about it? How many children have to commit suicide before schools start to take their responsibilty instead of issuing the same statements of "deep sorrow and regret" and the empty promises of "looking in to the matter and come up with some plan." ?
Yep, my teachers never said a f*****g thing about me getting bullied, many times during class. Pisses me off to this day.
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I remember in junior high, there was a girl who used to bully me everyday. I was mousy and little, she was pretty popular. She didn't even realize that she was bullying me until I told her off one day. She apologized and we went on to become friends to very close friends. And now she is among the very few school friends I am still in touch with.
Still to this day I am effected by the bullying I endured during my school years but I am slowly starting to heal myself. I still don’t like myself but I have learnt a few things in the past year or two. The people who matter don’t care and the people who care don’t matter. I know I am a good person and I now realise that people who are not in my life have no control over me. I am more resilient towards others just not myself lol. I am my own worst enemy.
Foxy, you're not alone - I was bullied for 4 years in a Catholic elementary school where there were only 8 girls in my class - it was 7 against 1, and teachers turned a blind eye. Therapy has helped me realize that it was during these formative years that I established patterns of negative thoughts that effect met to this day. It's only recently that I've been able to learn how to handle my thoughts to not let them completely take over my world.
Load More Replies... So 1 bully apologises to 1 victim. Great. How about all the teachers and principals that kept their eyes closed and mouths shut when they saw the bullying going on and refused to do anything about it? How about all the teachers and principals that still keep their eyes closed and mouths shut when they see the bullying going on and still refuse to do anything about it? How many children have to commit suicide before schools start to take their responsibilty instead of issuing the same statements of "deep sorrow and regret" and the empty promises of "looking in to the matter and come up with some plan." ?
Yep, my teachers never said a f*****g thing about me getting bullied, many times during class. Pisses me off to this day.
Load More Replies... I remember in junior high, there was a girl who used to bully me everyday. I was mousy and little, she was pretty popular. She didn't even realize that she was bullying me until I told her off one day. She apologized and we went on to become friends to very close friends. And now she is among the very few school friends I am still in touch with.
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