i am. guilty
and so is everyone else. everyone has spread a rumor at one point. i have. most of us think that simply mentioning a rumor you’ve heard could do no harm, but it could devastatingly impact someones life. i know rumors have impacted mine. some make me look cool. “I saw Bella at a party last weekend,” when actually I was at home doing puzzles with my mom. some make me look like a hoe. “I hooked up with Bella,” but really, i dont even follow you on instagram let alone hang out with you. others make me look like a bad person. “Bella cheated on her boyfriend,” but in reality, i would never do that to anyone. some even make me part of the LGBTQ community. “Bella is a lesbian!” (although i will support gay rights forever & always, i like boys). rumors are like cancer. they serve no purpose, spread recklessly without concern for the individual, and can wreck lives. because of these rumors i lost friends and missed out on plenty of opportunities. i remember two times in my life where i had mental breakdowns because of the way people perceived me, all because they believed in the gossip. although the constant rumors have had an overall negative impact on my life, it has also given me clarity. i have been able to see who will stick by my side through anything. it has also opened my eyes to who i can and cant trust. you never know when someone you thought was your friend tells you “I hear LAUREL” and betray you just like that. –
trust me, i am no fool to think i’m the only one affected by falsehood. this is a big issue for teenagers EVERYWHERE. hear me out on this. next time you have a rumor spread about you, know that you aren’t alone, and maybe it will make you rethink who you tell everything to. next time you think of passing something on, remember how quickly it can take on a life of its own (we have all played the telephone game). also, just because you have heard a rumor countless times, it doesn’t make it true!! i have learned through my experience that i need to be more responsible for what comes out of my mouth because although we dont like to believe it. words hurt.
