Something Good

From Something Bad

We've heard about the sometimes tragic consequences of bullying.

Here are two examples from The Week newsmagazine (June 1, 2012 and Oct. 5, 2012) of things that eventually turned out to be not so bad.

Hoping to get others to share their own experiences, Lynda Frederick posted a poem on her high school's Facebook page about her experience of being a bullied  while in school. She just wanted to tell classmates how her life had improved in the 25 years since she had left school.

The 42-year old Frederick received a flood of messages, begging her for the chance to make amends.

Her classmates raised $800 to fly her from California to New York for the school reunion.

She says she has forgiven her classmates. "We can't fix yesterday, but we can try to fix today." 

Whitney Kropp was surprised when she was named to her high school homecoming court, because by her own admission this 16-year-old girl was not one of the popular kids at her high school.

Then she was humiliated to find that it had just been a mean-spirited joke.

When word spread in West Branch, Mich, about the cruel prank the people of the town decided to turn the tables on the bullies.

 Local businessmen presented Kropp with a full makeover, including a gown for the homecoming dance. Hundreds cheered for her during the homecoming festivities.