Jeremy M. Burke has recently published a book detailing the story of his childhood when he was bullied on almost a daily frequency beginning when he was 9 years old. The story begins in fourth grade while on the bus. Some older kids spent their time on the bus ride and to and from school tormenting all the younger kids. When it was Jeremy’s turn in the gauntlet he was unprepared to face the level of terror these older boys inflicted on everyone.
Throughout the story you’ll hear how he tried to escape further into a subconscious dark place to run away from his fears. As the weeks and months went on it escalated and went from verbal tormenting to physical abuse. These years of terror turned him into a lost kid who somehow made it through the turmoil of adolescence without killing himself. He lived every day in fear and these fears expanded and followed him every where he went. Jeremy was constantly on alert and always looking over his shoulder for when they could come for him again.
His story is a wake up call to the parents of the world to get involved in their children’s lives, learn what’s going on and don’t take lip service from anyone that says they’ll “take care of it”. And this is also for the teachers, administrators and any other adult at schools to put aside the political correctness and stop protecting those that are tormenting others. If you’re going to take a stand then take that stand! Don’t just say you are.
Jeremy’s parents decided when he was in eighth grade to take him out of the public school system and enroll him in the Jesuit run Canisius High School in Buffalo. After Canisius, Jeremy graduated from another Jesuit institution, St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, Jeremy was commissioned as an officer in the US Army and served in the National Guard and Army Reserve including one tour in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He is married to his wife, Thea and father to two twin girls, Erin & Fiona, currently attending high school as Sophomores. Jeremy has been a small business owner and entrepreneur. Currently he is the head brewer at Steel City Coffee House & Brewery. Additionally he has recently founded a new business, Follow Me Leadership, which focuses on speaking and mentoring kids and adults to combat bullying in life and encourage others to Stand Up, Fight Back and live with a Follow Me mentality.