How do you battle bullying when the system doesn’t work?
A group called Champion of Choices says the answer is to build self-esteem for those that are bullied and those that do the bullying.
Former wrestler Marc Mero says the organization’s program, which he founded, has saved lives, including that of a high school student who shared her story of how bullying led her to nearly end her own life – twice.
Ninth grader Nikki Hopkins recalled a low point in her young life.
“I was laying there pretty much. It’s like, I can’t even kill myself. What am I good for? That's what I felt like.”
Her story is the same as the ones in any of the thousands of letters containing cries for help on the desk of pro-wrestler Marc Mero.
Little did Mero know, he would inadvertently hear one of those cries on a visit to Hopkins’ school.
“I was going to go home and kill myself that day, and I didn’t know that he was speaking,” Hopkins said.
Mero was doing a Champion of Choices presentation and going from school to school to connect with students, both bullies and the bullied.
Hopkins said Mero saved her life. She shared how she resorted to cutting, developed an eating disorder and tried to kill herself twice. But there was something in Mero’s message that she connected with.
“When they hear my story, they realize I am totally opening up, man. I’m leaving it all on the table and they feel like they can talk to me and open up to me,” Mero said.
Mero had everything; fame and money, until he lost it all because of drugs.
But he was able to pull himself back up and hopes his story inspires thousands of teens.
Mero and Hopkins agree students on both sides are hurting from something.
Hopkins said she couldn’t hide how she was feeling and believes that’s why students she didn’t even know kept bullying her.
“They would just constantly tell me how worthless, how stupid, how fat I was. A lot of them I didn’t even know,” she said.
After working with Mero, Hopkins said she is stronger. She is about to start ninth grade and is nervous, but says she’s ready for the challenge.
“I used to hate myself. But now, I love myself. I love everything about myself.”
Hopkins said there’s no need to confront a bully or get into a fight because words can no longer affect her.
Mero continues to tell his story at schools across the nation. For a schedule of presentations, visit www.championofchoices.org.