Readers,
Has there every been a situation where you saw something bad happen and for what ever reason you chose not to act. This is very common. People go through there lives thinking that if the situation should arise they would have the courage to take hold of the situation and stop it. Bullying is a classic example. How many people have seen bullying in action but didn't stop it. Even if you like the person there aren't many of us who would stand up for them. As much as it sickens me, I am not an exception.
In grade nine I was part of a rowing team at my school and there was another girl who not many people liked. I wasn't friends with her but I didn't not like her either. She rarely crossed my mind for no reason other than I didn't talk to her in my regular day. I don't know how many of you have been on a rowing team before but in my school's case rowers must be at the boat house for 5:30 am. So one early morning we were done our practice and we were back at the school to get ready for classes. A friend and I went to the dinning hall to eat breakfast. The other girls went down to get ready for school. While eating my friend mention what was going to happen. "Did you hear." she said. Of course I hadn't and asked her what was happening. She proceeded to tell me that the other girls were going to put pudding in another girl's shampoo. I felt a lump rise in my throat. "Really?" I asked. My friend nodded. Alarm bells went off in my head and I wasn't sure what to do. This person I wasn't really friends with was going to the victim of a cruel joke. I had two options. 1) Tell this girl and risked being hated my the rest of the girls who were in on the prank. Or 2) carry on and be part of the joke. As I looked over at my friend (who by the way I had been friends with for essentially my whole life) I chose to be part of the joke.
A harmless prank I thought. I convinced myself that it was just a little joke, nothing to get worked up about. It didn't mean anything more than a few laughs around friends. When breakfast was over and my friend and I walked into the change room. The girl was just putting a towel through her hair. Her slick, shiny, pudding lined hair. To say that I felt like garbage for the rest of the day is an understatement.
Why didn't I act. I can't say I really know but if I were to guess I would say that I was in grade nine. And like all grade nines I was eager to climb the social ladder. I was afraid to be an outcast. I as shallow and didn't give thought to others. In a way the reason is irrelevant that fact that I didn't do anything and the feeling I got afterwards is enough to scare me out of not acting again. Ever.
I know exactly what you mean, you were in grade nine and the last thing you wanted to happen was to be considered an outcast. It's hard in those situations because you are so torn because either way it will affect you. It's always hard deciding but there will always be those situations and sometimes you just have to stand by.
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