Interview With Jordon Ninkovich - A Survivor's Story

Jordon Ninkovich, Epidemic- A Survivor's Story, childhood obesity, yearbook photo

Jordon, age 14

"All of my life I've felt as though I was centre stage under the spotlight, but I was never the comedian - I was the joke".

By Citizen Correspondent Leslie Benisz

Date Posted: 06/12/07

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Jordon Ninkovich is a survivor. He's a survivor in every sense of the word. While the word survivor might bring to mind someone who had beaten a deadly disease like cancer or who had survived some horrific accident, the fact is Jordon survived an epidemic which continues to disable and even kill thousands of young people in the prime of their youth. This epidemic is costing our society in millions of dollars in wasted human resources in addition to the money that is spent on rehabilitation in schools and even in prison. The epidemic is called, bullying.

Jordon Ninkovich is now an adult who had endured a childhood of bullying. As a child he experienced obesity which led to name calling, fat jokes and the beginnings of what would become a very painful journey into his adolescent life as the 'fat kid' in high school.

Bullying from his peers became so bad for Jordon as a teen in high school that he considered committing suicide before he experienced some moments of truth which led to the turning point in his life.

Jordon not only survived but he chose to fight back in a way which would eliminate bullying forever.
He's also taken on a mission to help others like him who continue to be victimized by this invisible but horrific epidemic which is costing youth their lives and affecting our society for the worse.
I first met Jordon on my way home from work one day where he was interviewing passersby about bullying and in sharing some of my experiences I inquired about interviewing him.

Here is the interview in which Jordon Ninkovich shared his experiences and how they have helped him to fight back and help others.

LB: What led you to write this book?.

JN: "As a child I was overweight, which led to bullying by my peers. I was bullied to the point where school was a nightmare and by the tenth grade I was ready to call it quits.
I was bullied to the point where I wanted to commit suicide but I didn't attempt to do it even when the urge was so strong. Whenever I closed my eyes all I could see and hear was the laughter and name calling of bullies who made my life a living nightmare".

LB: What was the final straw?