Five life lessons to learn from a bullied homecoming princess



Contributing Writer
Photo: Tiara Credit: linusb4


Bullied teen Whitney Kropp stood as a shining example of human spirit as she walked out on the field with her fellow homecoming royalty. In a story that seems to come right out of a Carrie-esque plot, she found out only after her surprise nomination that it was a prank played by cruel classmates.

What happened to Whitney isn’t as important as how she reacted afterwards. Instead of shrinking into the shadows, she showed us all what you can achieve are brave. As she crossed the field in her bright orange dress – head held high, surrounded by those very same people that probably played the prank on her – she united every one of us that has ever overcome adversity. She reminded us all that life is tough at times and that we all have our own story of small victories achieved.

Whitney got me thinking about how we could all learn a little something from her grace and poise under pressure.  Whitney has grasped some important lessons at a young age, lessons that will help her through life, lessons like these:

1.  Life is tough, but you will survive

Life is tougher than you’ll ever believe. Someone will tell you this when you are young and you won’t believe them. You’ll think they are exaggerating. But they aren’t. It really is that tough. You can either chose to lay down and let it overcome your or you stand up with a spirit of steel and overcome the difficulties that it will offer you (and it certainly will).

2.  What other people think of you is not the most important thing

What you think of yourself is what counts. No words, no actions, no events can destroy who you are. You are stronger than even you know.

 3.  Laugh when you want to cry

Whitney’s poise standing next to the very bullies that likely participated in the prank, make them look small spirited in comparison. She shines. Bad things will happen and what will count most when they do is how you will react to them.

4.  We are braver than we believe

Even when we think that we can’t endure, that we can’t continue, there is a place that we can go within ourselves. A place deep inside where we keep our inner strength, a place that cannot be broken. It is the place where we go to recharge for the battle.

5.  Stand up for what you believe

Because if you don’t, then who will?

A person that grows without adversity will likely never learn these important lessons. The tough moments, the things that we think will destroy us, are likely to be the very things that create the people that we are meant to become.

Whitney reminds us that we are not alone in this struggle. She reminds us of how capable we are.

The internet and social media bring us together – they remind us of the strength that lies within each of us. That’s why, among other things, we can have sites like Wikipedia, Kickstarter and the Support Whitney Kropp Facebook page that show support for the right cause.

If you believe in Whitney, then go to her page and show her she is not alone. I did and so did 142k other people just like me.

Terra Higginson

Terra Higginson

Digital and Social Media Strategy Consultant at GoalShouter

Digital strategist for GoalShouter and One Take – Caffeine addicted, chocoholic – Need 8 hours of sleep or my alter ego, Darth Vader, takes over

Terra Higginson

@TheMavenofMedia

Digital strategist for @GoalShouter and @OneTakeDigMedia – Caffeine addicted, chocoholic – Need 8 hours of sleep or my alter ego, Darth Vader, takes over

Tumblr And Yahoo: Latest Details On The Imminent Deal http://t.co/39gmP3qx1t – 10 hours ago

Terra Higginson

  • http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

    Love the message Terra!

    #2 comes to mind over and over. What people think of us has nothing to do with us.

    Everything to do with them. Let their opinion go, and be you. You will be happier, healthier and wealthier for it.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Ryan

  • http://twitter.com/TheMavenofMedia Terra Higginson

    So true, but so easy to forget :)

  • uDaeth

    Would have been cool to hear more about the girl and how it all turned out, but thanks for sharing!

  • http://twitter.com/CarolLynnRivera Carol Lynn Rivera

    Aren’t kids horrible? Too bad a lot of them don’t grow up any better… sigh… So to your point, there is definitely strength to be found in adversity and the sooner we learn to deal with it effectively and gracefully, the better off we’ll be. And we may even inspire others along the way!

  • http://twitter.com/SuziShumaker Suzi Shumaker

    I want to know more about this…pictures of the princess. How she was treated as a result…

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