Bullied Pride By Jay Nabozny

615 Words2 Pages

Kinsey Kwan-Liu Period 3/4 2/2/17 Bullied Pride (hook) “If you’re going to be so openly gay,” the supposedly supportive principal drawled, “these kinds of things are going to happen to you.” Jamie Nabozny’s first reaction was shock, laced with tendrils of fire. This, however, burned hot and fast, quickly evaporating into a now-familiar weight; a weight pressing him towards inadequacy. Each day at school, he had been bullied, on account of his sexual orientation, closer to this precarious perch. Many people of minorities face such bullying now: society expects something of them that, sometimes, they simply are not. In the documentary Bullied, Nabozny models that, despite this, one can and should stay true to one’s individuality and not …show more content…

Bullies targeted him both verbally and physically for being gay, and the school administration essentially looked on with indifference. After many stages, Nabozny decided to take the issue to court. This move was a big leap in many ways. Many bullying victims begin to think that something is wrong with themselves and are strongly against the greater population having knowledge of it. Nabozny would have to face this along with telling the entire truth for the first time. No trial similar to his had been successful before. Yet with encouragement and support, Nabozny carried through. He believed that there were several statements that were indisputable: that he was gay, that he was being harassed for it, that he was not happy, and that humans have the right to be respected. Nabozny knew that this court trial was a way to do what he truly believed was right: to stand up against what was disrespectful and immoral. In the end, he won the trial. Nabozny would never have been able to achieve this for himself and other victims had the bullies swayed him from his anchoring beliefs of right and …show more content…

After a particularly serious day of torment, the shell of a boy attempted suicide: he took a pill that promised lethal poison. As he lay in bed, waiting for an end to life, he realized that he did not truly desire death. Nabozny hurried to tell his parents, who rushed him to the hospital. This moment took death off of Nabozny’s choices, giving him the motivation to somehow fight through. Running away, however, was still an option, and was an option that he chose after more bullying. After missing posters, phone calls, tears, and hugs, Nabozny recognized another one of his values: family. When asked his reasoning behind finally returning home, despite the bullies he knew he had to face, the young man confessed, “I just can’t see my mom like this.” His actions on his fundamental values ultimately led him forwards: Nabozny lived to make a statement on bullying across the nation, likely much to his family’s pride and

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