Last August, the scandal of bullying in one girl group triggered the heated discussion on bullying. In addition, There were many cases of suicide because of bullying. However there are many people who are alone, but not being bullied. They are just alone. Is the person, who cannot mix with others, that bad in our society?
Perpetrators say the problem is the victims. However, there are cases that this shameless answer is true. There is a person who was never treated as an outcast but was always alone. This person simply was more socially awkward than others. Outcast in one class has friend in other class and outcast in high school can make friends at university. Even the outcast’s personality changed into a very positive and energetic one.
The world is wide and there are many people whose personality matches yours. Locking up various students in small classrooms can make an outcast who cannot mix with anyone in that classroom. But just being always alone can be a reason for people to be bullied.
For example, 'Otaku', who likes Japanese cartoons and animations, is not exactly someone people want to befriend because of his or her unique hobby. However, if those kinds of people gather and you are in that space, you can be an outcast because you cannot share their hobbies. Like this, you can be labeled a strange and unique person with changes in your surroundings.
Bullying in university is less common than in high school or middle school because students can choose their classes. So they do not have to get along with others who do not share their hobbies or match their personalities. In addition, they can do club activities so they do not have to meet different people. When you were a middle or high school student, you have seen a person who is an outcast in your classroom but he has friend in other classes.
 Of course, we cannot allocate classrooms for every students to make friends. The role of school is meeting different people and helping students adapt to social communities. So students have to try to adapt to their environments. However, we should try to understand the fact that there are apt to be others who are different from us. We, as university students, are free to meet people; but we have to meet limited people when we get jobs. If there is someone who does not match you, you cannot change your job like you do with your majors at university. Bullying in a girl group was a hot potato because the people involved were full-grown entertainers. Meeting someone different from us is a way to prepare ourselves for a bigger world.
Understanding people different from us is important. By overcoming our indifference towards others, we will all be able to reach happiness.
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