Bullying starts early, but can be prevented

Although widely unacknowledged, youth violence is a pressing matter that has affected virtually all of the children in the world, from the minuscule villages in Africa to the house down the street. It has mentally and physically scarred adolescents from the beginning of human history, and causes many suicides.

These crimes against humanity are maddeningly caused by simple things, such as parental abuse of a child, or feelings of insecurity and anger. Even worse, this violence is neglected and ignored across much of America, when it could be so easily prevented.

Youth violence hinders the progress and development of children, and has a definite solution that is rarely used due to ignorance.

Violence can be found in any nook or cranny, even locally, where it has greatly affected me. Almost every day, I have been harassed by other boys who cannot accept my differences, once even leading to a physical fight. I feel like an outcast, a vagabond with no real purpose. These feelings let me sympathize with other people who have experienced the aggressiveness of those who only wish to maim and bully others, and I understand the predicament and crushing pressure that makes one want to end it all.

It has made me more cynical, also unwilling to trust others, and an inferiority complex, all from some “minor” violence against me. Knowing what it did to me, I can only imagine what major violence would make others feel like or do, and I doubt I would want to know.

However, this violence does not occur suddenly and randomly; there is always a precursor that makes a child lash out and abuse another. There can be many causes, but among the most common include dominance, social pressure and being abused by others, which is happening much more frequently now as youth violence escalates.

When toddlers are brought up and enter school, they discover the order of social hierarchy. Although some do not want to assert themselves, some do, and to establish their dominance, perform violent acts to confirm their superiority.

Social pressure makes them want to differ from all others in the hierarchy, so they see no other way to truly stand out than to provoke and taunt others to bully them, and eventually wound them in an actual fight. When abused, people feel angry that they had to deal with it, and in turn do it to others to try to make themselves feel better; after all, misery loves company.

All of these causes are easily preventable, but still persist today. The continued acts of homicide and aggressiveness against youths by youths has continued, despite the many ways to prevent it. One such method could be a better upbringing. I believe youth violence is caused because of one’s feelings of dominance, but if children were educated and raised to believe in equality for all and cooperation, there would not be any youth violence.

This could be accomplished by altering student curriculums to include these valuable principles. This would allow for a better world and prevent the many lives from being lost.

However, anyone can help prevent youth violence. By simply holding a fundraiser to help the victims of youth violence or garnering a petition to make a state law about youth violence. I could make a difference. I could report those who exhibit hostile behavior and are physical to prevent any incident from occurring. I could even raise awareness by holding a protest on the street. No matter how small, any endeavor to halt youth violence can save lives.

I believe that one day, children across the planet will peacefully coexist with each other, but only through hard work and perseverance of the people of Earth will make that day. Someday, the dream of peace may become a reality, and youth violence will be a thing of the past.