To absolutely love this video made by an old classmate.......14years on and a big up yours to the bullies !!

[NameyMcChanger]

He was the bullied foster care kid.

His mum had died of cancer and his dad committed suicide soon after, and he was oh so fucking damaged when he came to our school,not that the bullies cared. Nor did the teachers who turned a blind eye to the bullying and often joined in.

He's done extremely well for himself, I love it, it's a big fuck off to everyone who said he couldn't and wouldn't........I think it speaks out for a lot of kids out there who are going through the same sort of thing right now.

It's a bit long winded but the start and the last ten seconds say all that needs to be said.

[Lioninthesun]

Great video!
It always amazes me how many people (me included) are told by numerous teachers that they will never amount to anything. You'd think that teachers should be the last people to see that as an acceptable line in any scenario. Bullying from kids is one thing, but from responsible adults really does kill any hope. Good for him

[katykuns]

What a lovely guy. My Mum fosters teenage children and you can see the damage the educational system has done to their aspirations to achieve. I also suffered this, as early as year 5 I had been pigeon holed into being dim. It affected me a lot, but thankfully I went to a high achieving secondary school where it was just assumed you would pass.
I will stand there with your friend holding my middle finger up at those bullies!

[Strokethefurrywall]

I love this video - he's an absolute inspiration and he should be so incredibly proud of what he has achieved.

[TheUnsinkableTitanic]

Wow! Great video

[InsertBoringName]

What a great guy!

[quoteunquote]

Lovely.

[ithaka]

Great video - and lovely to see the positive impact an adult who believes in them can have on a child's life.

[Rubybrazilianwax]

Fantastic video, fair play to him

[NameyMcChanger]

He wasn't a friend as such, just in some of the same classes but one of those kids you wonder what had happened to him.......

Looking back I cannot believe how he was treated, this was a ^child^ whose mum had died of cancer and as a result his dad had killed himself. He was damaged beyond belief.

He's been very lucky to have done so well.....he's also the product of a loving, supportive foster carer who was not passed from pillar to post, the outcome may have been very different had it not been for a few adults stepping hp and saying 'I believe in you.'

[sparechange]

How lovely

[puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE]

What a lovely guy

[Calloh]

What a wonderful story! So pleased for him!

[UriGeller]

Ah, good lad! What a brilliant attitude. Best ending

[breadandhoney]

Super! What I get from this is just how powerful it is for a child to hear a few words of encouragement from an adult.

A few weeks ago DD was having a bit of a confidence wobble in her swim class (she is only 3 and it is all very easy going) and her teacher came up close, looked her square in the eye and told her "you can do this. You can do anything you want to do. And don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something. You can do anything you want to do."

It gave me a lump in my throat. We encourage dd in everything but I hope she encounters many others who do just this throughout her formative years and beyond.

Well done to this man. He has overcome many obstacles and seems very happy.

[NameyMcChanger]

It brings home the difference adults can make to young children.

I was the class fat, smelly kid. It didn't occur to them I may have been abused.......just wish id had adults there for me in the same way.

[Rachel778]

Good on Him :)

My children get bullied , by so called "men" in their early 20s .. The row I have had . .

Told my children the best revenge of all has no violence , Its to do well at school, get a great job and flaunt it in front of them . .Most of the bullies will never amount to nothing much . ..

[Donkeyok]

Just watched the video. Had to hold back the snuffles especially his wisdom when talking about chasing happiness instead of money, accompanied by lovely pics of happy family. As a teacher it has always disgusted me when colleagues lose it and make stupid remarks about kids destination in life. That can be more influential than years of teaching their subject. Well done to him. (Still young and good looking aswell - that sticks it to the bullies)

[DrCoconut]

Agreed about bullies not amounting to much. One of mine is nationally known as a ne'er do well now following her appearance in skint. I have passed my exams and have a job.

[AveryJessup]

Lovely to see someone rise above petty cruelty and go on to achieve so much, living proof of 'don't let the bastards grind you down!'

[AndHarry]

Aww lovely, thanks for sharing OP.

[NotALondoner]

Did he have siblings? There were three children in the wedding photo.

[elinorbellowed]

Yes, it's inspiring and he seems great.
However, I don't get how you have turned this into teacher-bashing when he heaps praise on his form tutor/English teacher for believing in him.
My BIL goes on and on about how his teachers called him stupid and looked down on him. When I ask him for details he can never remember them actually saying such a thing, it was purely his own perception. He also had excellent support in the form of a TA who I coincidently know and she remembers it very differently.

[mrsjuneyjuney]

this is a nice positive video.