I Watched It Happen to Her When I Should Have Helped

I learned a hard lesson during the fifth grade that will stay with me forever . We were only 10 years old - you could say we were too young to know any better - but there's no excuse.., not for this.

The 5th grade was not a great year for me. I had no friends and remember feeling very much alone. My brother was in another class so I couldn't talk to him . I was always singled out of everything . I wasn't a shy person. Well, maybe a little. I guess I just liked to focus on my education and I preferred to work independently. This made it hard to make friends with my peers . What made it even harder was how toxic I felt many of them were .

Thankfully I enjoyed learning, and that's all that really mattered to me at the time . Every day I just kept my head down and got on with my work as normal, until one day, there was an interruption in the normal routine. An unfamiliar woman walked into our classroom with this kid trailing behind her head down. Our teacher smiled and called for our attention . "Class, we have a new student who will be joining you. Everyone, please meet your newest classmate, Brianna."

I don't know when or why exactly it happened, but my classmates got sick of her silence. They started messing with her . Soon the rumors began to spread. One thing to note about Brianna - she was a really pretty girl, but her clothes and shoes often had stains or holes in them . They started calling her poor and dirty. They said that she smelled and that she hadn't showered in a month . When they told her to her face she was an orphan and that no one loved her, she finally reacted, but with tears. This went on for about another month, until that day came that I will never forget.

It was the end of recess. The class was lined up on the basketball court waiting to go inside . I was waiting in the back of the line just behind Brianna. Though I never stuck up for her directly, I always made sure to give her a little smile . I sometimes said hi to her, and I could tell it made her day because she always said hi back and smiled . That day at recess, in the back of the line, I smiled and said hi. She grinned and it made me so happy . But the happiness on our faces disappeared when a group of boys, her main bullies, came over from the front of the line .

I turned to Brianna. Tears were falling from her eyes. I remember exactly what I said to her. "You don't stink." I said firmly. "You're good." I gave her an encouraging smile and she looked at me with gratitude, but also sadness. That look has stayed with me ever since . "Thanks" she murmured. The line started moving and the class walked back to our room . When I turned around, Brianna was nowhere to be seen. Where had she gone?

"It has come to my attention that your classmate Brianna has been badly bullied by THIS VERY CLASS . Brianna. A sweet girl who only just joined us, who did not have a bad word to say to anybody . Instead of lifting her up, you saw weakness and you tore her down, calling her names and even telling her the earth would be a better place without her." She paused and looked down at the floor. "As some of you may know, Brianna hasn't been in school for two weeks now . Her parents have just informed me that..." She paused again. "Brianna tried to take her own life."

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[sparklyloveyou]

For everyone who reads this, virtual hugs go to all, including Brianna 🤗

[brandontinch]

I'm glad he didn't get punished! He stood up for Brianna!

[harshitadeka]

The punishment was not enough, she suffered so much because of the kids who think that making fun of someone is okay 😡

[binubroono]

Thank God Brianna is OK.. A huge salute to the person who stood by her side.. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[samuelebincoletto]

This video is the complete opposite of the title, he was literally the only one who stood up to her, he's anything but a bystander. Also nice to see that a school actually do something against bullies.

[ColdFallRain]

Kids can be cruel.





Trust me, I know from experience.

[lovelybird]

Sometimes I wonder what do kids really gain from bullying :(

[akieworld]

What's the point of trying to make someone else's day worse?

I don't know why but some people are just that messed up

[iztheyapper]

this is horrible. being bullied isnt cool or fun.

[sombokaweza]

"Bullying has an impact on people's lives" this should be a message for all bullies out there.

[binubroono]

I don't Understand what will these bullies really get when they see sadness in others eyes.. moreover, Y can't the parents teach something good to them, to respect others ?? Seeing only weakness in others, is actually the one who is a coward...

[eldenlion]

Unfortunately this is the world we live in. People would rather tear each other down than lift each other up. Good on you man for standing up to them and good on the teacher for taking action to.

[kanna]

Those bullies are pure evil and that they deserve to be punished.

[mauricesmithjr]

You're a great friend standing up to those bullies

[driftercosplays]

WHY IS THIS SO SIMILAR TO MY LIFE??
i was extremely badly bullied, the bullies said the same things to me, and i tried to take my own life. the only difference is nobody got punished and i stayed in the same class

[asimarthurton]

You made the right decision by standing up those bullies to protect that poor girl named Brianna now that's what I call Akhtar bravery they're just being just an innocent bystander being afraid that the boys might turn on your next but sometimes you just got to stand up and let them know no you guys maybe bullies but that doesn't mean that you own everything you're lucky that you became one of the lucky ones they're Brianna they allowed you to to get less homework and more reset timer and also access to your iPad that's a friendship is for I don't know one thing Rihanna will be very happy to see this video you put up for her👌🏽

[elmin]

poor Brianna, the guy did right when he stood up for her

[DrAimy]

This video actually got a lump inside my throat and was about to cry. Minute videos is doing such a great work in bringing up experinces like this which teaches people lessons.

[cassandraleis]

Brianna a human being and no one deserves to be treated like that now she's made new friends and smiles more than she did before she even came to say high to you Skyler

[trololololol]

He actually did stand up for her
Sometimes it takes courage
but he did it.
He was never bullying her, he was 10. he should not be blamed for this. he actually stood up for her for once
plz dont judge him
Thank you <3