OWN CORRESPONDENT
In a hard-hitting, interactive talk, Ruygrok shared his story of how he had been bullied for being a gymnast and actor. He explained that bullies thrive off the power they get from the group who support them. Without their “backup”, bullies will not survive. Ruygrok said it takes only one person to stand up to the bully, and he appealed to students to be that person.
An excellent defence against bullying, he said, is to build self-confidence using your own talents and gifts. Instead of judging people based on their external image, focus on getting to know who that person is on the inside.
Words are like toothpaste, Ruygrok cautioned. Once you have squeezed the tube, it’s impossible to get the toothpaste back in. Even though you press “delete”, the damage is done, he said, urging students to choose their words wisely.
