Betty Ann response

1. I think the saddest part of Betty Ann was the whole story. It was sad when they teased her about what she believed in and studied. It was sad when they teased her about what she ate, what she wore, how she thought and talked. It was sad when (and I think this is saddest because I personally know how true and possible this is) she had a nervous breakdown. I partially know how she feels. Back when I was in fifth grade, and I'm not afraid to admit this, I was the loser, the geek, the dweeb. I was bullied to no end. I sometimes found my stuff being stolen from me by other guys, sometimes I found it being hid in absurd places by those same guys. And always I found myself being laughed at by those guys. When I went into fifth grade, I loved school. Very, very soon, I found myself hating it, not wanting to go back. after I moved into middle school, I reinvented myself a little bit so that I could have more fun at school. Therefore, I made a great discovery (If everyone knew this the world would be a better place so remember this). People don't try to be mean. People don't try to be cruel, or even want to kill people when they do. What people want ultimately is attention. People will go to extreme measures to get attention, it even causes diseases (not joking) like Annorexia. People starve themselves to get skinnier and that generates a lot of attention. Sometimes, you don't even know it's happening, but you start doing things that you wouldn't normally do. Last year at my old school, I suddenly realized that I was helping in shunning and bullying a less popular kid and I didn't even know. Now I can spot bullying from a million miles away, but when you obtain that ability, you realize how easily people can bully without even knowing it. But whether they know it or not, the kid who's bullied is always conscious of it.

2. To stick up for someone is harder than it seems. Would I stick up for someone if they're being bullied? If I can, I will. But there are situations where you can but at the same time, your putting you're entire reputation at risk. For example, take Betty Ann. If you stuck up for her, those kids would descend on you like a pack of mistreating hyenas. I have been in situations where I could stick up for someone and they were looking to me for help! I cannot tell you how stressful it is to be in that position, Where you have the sole power of desire to help them by putting all your popularity at risk. So did I help him? Unfortunately, no. But if you want to possibly be shunned and pushed around, that may happen if you help them. You can call people selfish who do that but their situation is hard. But if you have the power to help someone, I implore that you do.

3. The moral of the story was said in the text. Sticks and stones can break bones but words can shatter the soul. True. Very, very true. This means that emotional damage can have an effect on your physical health if, according to the story, your soul is shattered. It also said that life has no erasers which I liked because it means you can't redo something that has already happened, no matter how hard you try, so you've got to make sure you don't find yourself in that position by doing things right the first time. Another thing I liked was when the narrator said that we all make mistakes. this implies that people are imperfect, which a lot of people misunderstand.

The best time to make friends is before you need them.

-Ethel Barrymore