‘Bullying made me tougher’
Tuesday 29th July 2008, 2:29PM BST.
Andy Priaulx autographs his book at the British round of the World Touring Car Championship at which the autobiography was launched. (Picture by Zoe Ash, 0611587)
ANDY PRIAULX has spoken for the first time about how dark times in his childhood helped drive him on to be a winner.
In a new, honest and revealing autobiography, the triple World Touring Cars champion admitted that being bullied at school was one of the factors that influenced his successful career, which at the weekend saw him take a victory spin in a BMW Formula One car in front of thousands of racing fans at Brands Hatch.
The celebrations tied in with the launch of the book, The Autobiography of the Three-time World Champion, during the British leg of his bid to retain the WTCC title.
Priaulx said that he had been apprehensive about committing his life to paper. ‘I didn’t particularly like doing it. It was a very emotional process. Having now written the book, I realise part of the problem was that I want the recognition and respect without the invasion of privacy in my life.’
One of the most difficult parts of the process was agreeing to retrace parts of his life, in particular the bullying while he was a fee-paying pupil at Elizabeth College.
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I read Andy’s book in one go last week . It is very readable and the things that really come through are his love for his family , his sport and Guernsey .This is a book not only for the motor sport enthusiast it is for anyone who enjoys reading about people who succeed against all odds.
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Bullied?? Is there a difference between bullying and teasing? I will only believe him if he names the bullies as my school days everyone had a time they were teased or picked on but its all part of growing up and I doubt with every boys toy bought for him (including speedboat) he really struggled or had time for bullies. What people will say to sell a book. I will have to look at the year book to see if any of his class mates are now politicians!!!
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It’s interesting to hear Mr. Priaulx claim that being the target of a bully actually made him a tougher person and helped him succeed in his career. Although I haven’t read his book and am not familiar with his career, I don’t doubt that what he says is true. Some respond to be bullied by using the experience to self-motivate themselves. Likewise some children who grow up in a war zone in their homeland or perhaps a “war zone” at home in their home life also use the experience to help them succeed. However the vast majority of childen who live lives during which they are threatened daily by violent conflict, warfare, or by being the target of a bully at school, which also makes them a victim of psychological, if not physical, violence, have been severely harmed by the experience. They are more likly to be stifled and handicapped by being bullied, than energized. They’re more likely to suffer from the effects of such trauma and have to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the loss of confidence, nighmares, fears ,and other disabilities that go with PTSD. Priaulx’s expereince is no reason to look at bullying or being bullied as a harmless childhood experience.
Leonard Nolt
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