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7 Things a High School Bully Taught Me about Facing Fear

7 Things a High School Bully Taught Me about Facing Fear

The day I got suspended from high school was one of the best days of my life. The weeks leading up to it, on the other hand, were miserable. Fear. Sleepless nights. Dread. Depression.

And while I’d never wish my situation on another, it taught me some incredible lessons about facing fear.

Two Bullies, One Victim

I’ve always been an easy-going, “why-can’t-we-all-just-get-along” kind of guy. I’m also a foot taller than most. Both have served me well in my adult life, but in the twisted world of adolescence, this particular combination made me a target. Bullies figure that if they can push the big kid around then they’ll move a rung or two up the tough-guy ladder.

This is the story of the day I finally had enough.

Daryl and Jeff were both shorter than most. Probably around 5’ 5”. Daryl was stocky and muscular. Jeff not so much. Maybe they had short man syndrome, I don’t know. But both were aggressive. And both had it in for me.

The story begins in study hall at Pekin High School. 1979. I was six foot tall and probably tipped the scale at a buck sixty. I was hunched over a desk made for someone six inches shorter than me, engrossed in reading ‘Salem’s Lot.

Crack! A searing pain on the back of my skull.

I looked up to see Daryl walking away, giggling, and rubbing his knuckles.

The kids around me laughed. I didn’t know how to react, so I laughed along. But I kept my eye on Daryl. He high-fived Jeff and took his seat. I went back to reading.

I noticed movement above my book. I glanced up to see Jeff walk past me carrying pencils to be sharpened in the back of the room. I kept an eye on him as he walked by. Nothing. I went back to my book.

Jeff busted my skull on his way back to his desk. It hurt like crazy. I looked behind me to see if the teacher had witnessed what had just taken place. No such luck. She was engrossed in her own book, at ease and ignorant of the assault.

From then on, reading in study hall was impossible. I could never fully relax. Couldn’t get caught up in King’s story of vampires descending on the small town of Jerusalem’s Lot. I had predators of my own to contend with.

Uncle Rodge Gives Me a Pep Talk

When I told Mom what was going on at school, she knew I needed something she couldn’t provide. Something no woman could give me. Boys need a man to usher them into manhood.

So, she called Uncle Rodge.

Thirty minutes later, Uncle Rodge walked into my room. Mom left us alone.

“So, Greg, what’s the que los problemos?”

Uncle Rodge took a year of Spanish in high school and liked to pepper his speech with Spanish phrases. More often than not, his phrases were grammatically incorrect.

I opened up and told him the whole story.

“So…having trouble with bullies at la escuela.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“Why don’t you hit them back?”

I stammered. “I’m…well, I don’t want…I mean…”

“Scared to get hit?”

I nodded.

“Never been in a fight?”

“No, not really. Well, Jim Durbin and I used to fight some growing up, but nothing serious.” Jim was my best buddy who lived across the street.

“Greg…I want you to listen to me very carefully. No amount of pain of getting hit compares to the pain you’re going through right now.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to try to keep from crying. I did not want to lose it in front of Uncle Rodge. He saw my pain and softened.

“You losing sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“Hate to go to school?”

“Um hmm.” Tears were flowing freely now.

“It’s not worth it, Greg. Listen, I was about your age when I got in a fight. Same kind of situation. A kid was giving me a hard time. I finally had enough and let him have it.”

“What happened? Did you win?”

“Can’t remember. But it didn’t matter, because he never bothered me again.” He paused. “I guess I did win.”

“Yeah, but you were a boxer.” Uncle Rodge had been a Golden Glove boxer in his younger years.

“Not then, I wasn’t.”

I shook my head. “Still…”

He paused. “You know what the best part of it was?”

“What?”

“Word spread. See, bullies look for guys who don’t fight back. Makes them look tough to pick on a kid who won’t do anything about it. Most of them don’t actually want to get into a fight. The day I fought back was the day everyone learned that you don’t mess around with Hoover. Never had another problem. With that guy or any others.”

The thought of putting a permanent end to all of this sounded really good. But still, there was the problem of what it would take.

“So, what should I do?”

He smiled. “When you walk into study hall tomorrow, I want you to set down your books and walk up to the biggest of the two guys.”

“The biggest?” I swallowed hard.

“Yes. The biggest. If you go after the smaller guy then the bigger kid might come after you too. But if you stand up to the bigger of the two, it’ll probably scare the little one off.”

Made sense. But I still didn’t like the plan. It meant I’d have to stand up to Daryl.

“Then what?” I asked.

“Then…” he gritted his teeth. “…you hit him…hard. As hard as you can. Then hit him again.”

“Isn’t once enough?” As odd as it may sound, I was concerned for Daryl. I didn’t want to actually hurt him. I just wanted this to end.

“Probably not. The first will take him by surprise. But then he’ll come after you. You’ve got to hit him again before he gets that chance.”

“Uh…where do I hit him?”

“Right here.” He placed his meaty fist up to my nose and mouth. “That’s the best spot because you catch his nose and mouth with one punch.”

“And that’s good?”

“If a guy gets hit in the nose, his eyes start to water. He can’t see straight with water in his eyes. If he can’t see straight, you’ve got an advantage.” This was a Golden Glove boxer talking. “And if the punch also catches his mouth then his lip might bleed. He may panic a bit.”

The thought of making Daryl bleed was unsettling. Uncle Rodge must’ve read my thoughts.

“Busted lips heal quickly. It’s no big deal. He’ll be fine.”

I considered everything he was telling me. “If I get in a fight in school, I’ll get suspended.”

“Yep.” He looked at me and smiled. “You think it’ll be worth it?”

I looked at my hands in my lap. Yes, I thought. Oh, yes.

I looked up at Uncle Rodge. “But….what’s it feel like? You know…to get hit?”

“Honestly, you probably won’t feel it at the time. You’ll feel it the next day for sure, but by then it’ll all be over.” He grinned. “You might get a good shiner out of it too.” He leaned toward me. “Girls kind of like that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He softened. “Look Greg…I know you’re scared. No one wants to get into a fight. Not good kids like you, anyway. But sometimes, good kids need to stand up for themselves to make bad kids stand down. It’s not fun, but sometimes it’s necessary. Only you can decide if this is one of those times.”

I’d already made up my mind.

Fight Day: The Call My Mom Got at Work

About 2 o’clock the next day, Mom got a call at work.

“Is this Mrs. Lhamon?”

“Yes.”

“This is Mr. Thomas. I’m the principal at Pekin High School. I have your son here in my office.”

“Oh?” she replied.

“He was involved in a fight here today.”

The way Mom tells the story, she covered the mouthpiece of the phone and silently screamed, “YES!” She might’ve pumped her fist, too.

“As you know, Mrs. Lhamon, we cannot have kids fighting in school.”

“I understand, Mr. Thomas. But he had my permission.”

He stammered. “Your permission?”

“Yes. A couple of boys had been bothering him for weeks now. He was losing sleep, didn’t want to go to school. So, he had my permission to take care of the situation.”

I bet this was a first for Mr. Thomas.

“Well, Mrs. Lhamon, you know he could’ve come and told us.”

“Yes, he could’ve.” Mom paused in order to drive her next point home. “But you and I both know that wouldn’t have solved his problem, don’t we?”

Mr. Thomas went silent. Several seconds passed. “Yes. I suppose we do. But you know we have rules here. I have to suspend Greg for three days.”

“I understand, Mr. Thomas. Greg is prepared to take his punishment. Besides, I’ve got some work around the house that needs to be done. Greg can get a lot done in three days.”

My mom is the greatest.

One Hour Earlier

I wish I could say I walked into study hall that day like that part in all the Rocky movies when Adrian gives Rocky the pep talk and the Tom Conti music kicks in and then Daryl got up in my face and said, “I’m going to bust you up” and I looked right back at him with the Eye of the Tiger and said, “Go for it.”

That would’ve been cool.

Instead, I felt like the fat kid in that pie-eating contest in Stand by Me whose stomach was gurgling because he’d just downed a quart of castor oil and a raw egg and was about to spew the room with blueberry projectile vomit.

Daryl and Jeff were waiting for me at the door of study hall. They both shoved me as I walked past them.

I went to my desk and set down my books. I turned to see Daryl standing there with a big grin. He’d followed me. Any glimmer of hope I had that this could be resolved peacefully had just disappeared.

This was it. This was my moment. This was when my nightmare would end.

Daryl turned to look at Jeff who was walking up to the two of us. Jeff mocked me in some way, but I couldn’t tell you what he said. Daryl laughed and turned back to me.

And that’s when I nailed him. A right hook across his jaw.

The fight lasted all of 8 seconds. I don’t remember details, just snapshots. I recall Daryl falling back across a desk from the blow. He scrambled to his feet, not exactly sure what had just happened. He came toward me and I hit him again. He may have landed a punch or two but I didn’t feel it (Uncle Rodge had been right about that.).

The teacher stepped between us and ordered me to the principal’s office. She would send Daryl a few minutes later.

The walk to Mr. Thomas’s office was triumphant. If my life was a movie, this is where the Rocky theme would’ve kicked in. “Gonna fly now!” I was flying. Practically levitating.

I passed a cute girl in the hallway. “Howdy, ma’am. A lovely day, isn’t it? Care to take a stroll with me to the foot bridge?” If I’d been wearing one, I would’ve tipped my hat to her.

I walked into the principal’s office, tussled and unkempt. “Excuse me…Mrs. Potter sent me here.”

“Why?” the secretary asked.

“I was in a fight,” I replied with a marked lilt in my voice.

“Have a seat.”

A few minutes later, Daryl walked in looking far worse than me.

“Sit there next to him. Mr. Thomas will see you in a minute.” She went off to tell the principal about the two delinquents in the waiting area.

Daryl and I just sat there. For the first time in months, I had no fear of him. In a remarkable change of roles, he was the one who didn’t want to make eye contact with me.

After several minutes, he broke the silence, “What are we going to tell him?”

At that moment, I knew it was over. I’d never have problems with him again. Or Jeff.

I smiled. Not a gloating smile. Just confident.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to tell him the truth.”

What Does All this Mean?

I want to set aside the subject of bullying for now. It used to be a simpler topic to address. I’m not sure it still is. Especially when you consider that 30% of students who have been bullied confessed that they have taken weapons to school in response. It’s a different world today.

Instead, let’s talk about what my story can teach us about facing our fears:

Fear is crippling.

The weeks leading up to the day I finally took action were torturous. I couldn’t focus. It didn’t matter to whom I was talking, I was never fully present. I was perpetually distracted, always looking over my shoulder. Fear is incapacitating. If not addressed, it can adversely affect your relationships and even your health. It is a terrible way to live.

The will to act is the first step in overcoming fear.

This is huge. Once I decided to take action, my thoughts switched from stewing on the problem to planning the solution. Whatever you’re facing right now, you can overcome it, but you must first decide to do something about it. Most of the weight of your fear will disappear once you muster up the courage to act.

More often than not, the solution hurts less than your fear.

Uncle Rodge told me, “No amount of pain of getting hit compares to the pain you’re going through right now.” He was dead right. Once I took action, the fear lifted immediately.

Freedom from fear is possible, but it often exists on the other side of temporary pain.

As I high-stepped my way to the principal’s office I was overcome with joy…triumphant, all-encompassing joy.  I thought, “Why did I wait so long to stand up to these guys?” You too can experience freedom from fear, but it might mean taking a punch in the process. Do it anyway. It’ll be worth it.

Courage is like a muscle…the more you work it, the stronger it gets.

Shortly after the fight, I greeted a cute girl in the hallway with a boldness that was atypical for me during my high school years. The truth is, when you overcome a fear in one area of life it makes you more courageous in other areas.

Sometimes the scariest options are the ones with the best results.

Uncle Rodge told me to stand up to the bigger of the two guys. In retrospect, it was the best choice, because it scared off both bullies with one fight. What is your biggest fear? Chase it first. Burn your ships. Your smaller fears will perish in the flames as well.

Enlist the help of others.

In my story, fear clouded my judgment. It wasn’t until Uncle Rodge gave me an uninvolved perspective that I began to see a way out of my misery. I encourage you to lean on a friend, family member, or co-worker to reveal options to you on how to solve your problem. For those who are in abusive situations, find a professional counselor, pastor, or some other authority. You need objective advice.

What fear are you living with right now? Take time to analyze what your fear is costing you. Seek outside help to determine your response.

And then…act.

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

Rosa Parks

(Note: Those aren’t the real names of the bullies. I changed them to the names of a couple of my good friends, Daryl Skaer and Jeff Laird. I did this because friends are usually the ones who teach you important lessons.)

Questions: When have you needed to face a fear head-on. What was the result? How did your life change once you took action? Leave a comment below.

25 Comments

  1. DC

    My worst bully to date was my first boss. Problem was, she had all my “advisors” on her side believing she would never do anything inappropriate to a younger colleague unless they deserved it, so in their eyes I was either the real troublemaker or an oversensitive whiner. I had to take matters into my own hands and quit–but it took me two years of consistent bullying and harassment that I accepted as “character building.” It pays to be very careful about the models you choose and the advice you take…a lesson I learned waaaaaay too late. But bullies are still bullies no matter how old they are, and standing up to them is a clear way of showing yourself what you’re made of.

    • Greg Lhamon

      Very well said, DC.

    • Greg Lhamon

      Very well said, DC.

  2. des

    My time at west campus was rough. I was also bullied in those halls. I was bullied at home as well. There was no escape. My father defeated my self esteem to the point that I couldn’t possibly stand up for myself.

    The bullying was so bad that I even jumped a slow moving train to escape their pursuit.

    I lived those years (1980-82) in fear. The worst part is that had I not been afraid of dying, I would have committed suicide.

    A child who is bullied and who has noone to turn to, is desperate to escape the fear and pain. Unfortunately, for some we carry for the rest of our lives, the PTSD resulting from being bullied by a parent, teacher and/or classmates

    • Greg Lhamon

      Des…I am so very sorry for what has happened to you in your life. And I’m thankful you never considered suicide. It sounds as if you are using your pain — as severe and traumatizing as it clearly was — to become a more sensitive parent. That is wonderful! Your kids are very, very fortunate.

      Thanks for sharing your story.

  3. Pam

    This is an excellent article! But I have a question: While this worked perfectly for a person who was physically bullying you, what could you have done to someone verbally bullying you? Social media has provided a whole other forum for bullies to stalk their victims. Do you have any suggestions for that type of bullying? (And you are a VERY entertaining writer!)

    • Greg Lhamon

      Pam…first of all, thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it very much.

      Cyber-bullying is very problematic because people tend to be more aggressive online than they are offline. I have spent no time researching that issue and feel unqualified to address it.

      Verbal bullying is similar to physical bullying in the sense that it is done face-to-face. As I mentioned in the post, bullying today is very different than when I was in high school. Back then, a couple of guys could get in a fight and walk away buddies. Not sure it’s the same today.

      Thanks again.

  4. Kristi Lutz Copeland

    Great story, Greg. I was guessing Daryl David and Jeff Winters, but you had me fooled. And oh how I loved you uncle Rodger! He was a huge influence on me in 6th grade.

    • Greg Lhamon

      I didn’t know you had Uncle Rodge as a teacher. I bet you have stories. I’d love to hear them.

      And thanks for the shot in the arm.

      • Sherry Singleton Morris

        I also had your Uncle For a teacher. He was a great teacher and person. I’m glad you had him for support. 💗 Mr. Hoover

        • Greg Lhamon

          Great to hear, Sherry. I always love hearing from those who were positively impacted by Uncle Rodge.

  5. Christine Urish

    God bless Uncle Rodge! At least you weren’t screamed at Z_E_L_M_A all the way down the leeway….remember the leeway…..so many memories from West Campus that doesn’t even exist anymore. good thing we have pictures and memories….Cheetos and the Dragons Den.

  6. Deb Matthews

    We just had “Story Hour” (as my boys called it) on the front porch as I read your latest blog aloud to them. You could have heard a pin drop! Bravo to you, Greg. It’s not many who can capture their attention in such a manner as this!

    • Greg Lhamon

      Thank you, Deb. That’s very encouraging.

  7. Deb Matthews

    We just had “Story Hour” (as my boys called it) on the front porch as I read your latest blog aloud to them. You could have heard a pin drop! Bravo to you, Greg.. It’s not many who can capture their attention in such a manner a this!

  8. Deb Matthews

    We just had “Story Hour” (a my boys called it) on the front porch as I read your latest blog aloud to them. You could have heard a pin drop! Bravo to you, Greg. It’s not many who can capture their attention in such a manner as this!

  9. Jeff Laird

    Fear truly is a self-imposed prison. And no matter the root of the fear, the darkness it casts upon us is often incapacitating and fuel to keep the fear alive. As you so wonderfully show through the examples of your mom and uncle, it is a simple, small light from others that can dispel that darkness and free us from fear.

    I hope this story inspires readers not only to seek out that light in others when you are consumed by fear, but to BE that light to others you sense are hurting.

    Thanks for sharing!

    • Greg Lhamon

      Well said, Jeff. I know for a fact that you’ve been that sort of light to others. You have been to me.

  10. Anita Wallace

    Uncle Rodge…Mr Hoover…what a great guy he was!!

    • Greg Lhamon

      Thank you, Anita! I agree completely.

  11. Larrie Hedrick

    I remember him catching kids fighting and he would hold them over after school and put them in boxing gloves and let them pound the crap out of each other, much to the chagrin of the principal! After about two minutes of wildly slinging those hugh 16 oz gloves, and both kids were completely spent, he turned it into a ”Life Lesson”! Amazing how many times the two combatants would walk away with some new found mutual respect for each other!!

    • Greg Lhamon

      That is pure Rodger Hoover there, Larrie. Thanks for sharing it.

  12. Kimberley Spencer-Popken

    Greg, I also was the brunt of bullying at dear old PCHS… I recall walking with trepidation down the long Lee way. So many times I was shoved, bumped, or taunted while I tried to ignore it. (Which compounded the issue because I was an easy target.) Oh, how I wish I had an Uncle Rodge to talk to…

    I was also ‘bullied’ at home, so I did not have a barometer for how people should be allowed to treat me. I generally took my bullying in silence, but did ‘snap’ a time or two… Once in 6th grade, I shoved Joyce away from me, and she fell on the bathroom floor, with a look of bewilderment on her face. (Interestingly enough, that ended her bullying of me.) Then, the really bad ‘snap’… Sandy in the locker room (If you are unaware of this incident, I will spare you the details) it was unfortunate, and a direct result of me feeling as if I had no way out. No support, no adult in my corner encouraging me.

    I finally learned to demand respect, and that I deserved to be treated kindly by all people. Unfortunately, that awakening only came after being severely beaten by my boyfriend when I was 18. I now advocate for ALL to expect to be cherished in relationships.Despite my efforts, I have had 2 of my friends end up murdered by their ‘loved one’.

    The good thing here is that I learned to be a SURVIVOR, not a victim. I also have equipped my children to also be survivors and to never tolerate being abused or ‘used’ by others. I also have told my children that they are ever suspended for standing up to a bully, I will take them out for ice cream. (I do not advocate being a bully at ALL, but empowering them to know I will support them was enough.) My oldest son is 26, and the first time a child had to stand up to a bully was this past year. Not that they were never bullied, but they never felt powerless. I wonder if the confidence of being able to stop the bully and not get the parents upset was enough to erase the ‘easy target’ on their back?

    • Greg Lhamon

      Kim…I am so very sorry. You have been through so much more than a person should ever have to face. And those friends who were murdered…I just can’t process that. Such pain for you and their families.

      Your children, though, are incredibly blessed that you’ve channeled your experience into a vision for what they should expect from relationships. If they don’t realize that now, they surely will!

      I think your last sentence is spot on. When kids feel their parents have got their back then they carry a confidence that likely wards off people who’d want to take advantage of them.

      Thank you for being so transparent, for facing the demons of your past, and for helping others learn from your painful experiences. I admire you.

    • des

      I was also bullied at old west campus, and at home. Fighting back would have made it more difficult at home. Only option I had was to try tossurvive each and every day.

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