Bowersox, on CNN, recounts being bullied
10/9/2010ATLANTA - American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox appeared on CNN Friday night as part of a weeklong report about bullying and recounted her experiences while growing up in northwest Ohio.
"Bullying is not acceptable at any age, for any reason," she wrote on a blog for CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.
"To my adolescent mind, the reasons why my peers treated me poorly were cruel and insignificant; and mostly for reasons that were completely out of my hands.
"I experienced what seemed like constant emotional bruises and jabs, repetitive negative verbiage, name calling, and harassment not only within the walls of my home, but also in the halls of my school," she wrote.
"I understand that growing up is tough for everyone ...
"I was often picked on for being poor. My brothers and I were part of the low-income school lunch programs, so our lunches were free. ...
"My home life was beyond humble. At school, I was punished for it. I was also taunted by a few students for being diabetic ....
"I later learned to manipulate my health to miss school, because I dreaded being there so, and the hospital felt safer than home."