Surviving School Bullying: Journey from Pain to Advocacy

Tim Flynn (00:04.443)

Welcome back to Breaking Bullying. Today we're hearing a personal story of Bullying, the challenge faced, and the lessons learned today. We'll get right into it after I hit this music.

Tim Flynn (00:17.699)

You are uploading fine, 99%. We're awesome, okay. All right, here we go. Joining me this week is author and anti-bullying advocate, Erica Lowenkopf. Erica, thank you so much for coming on today.

Erika (00:34.904)

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Tim Flynn (00:38.183)

So Erica, I would love to hear your story about school bullying. A lot of people do experience school bullying as myself, but tell us your story and we'll go right from there.

Erika (00:53.161)

Okay, I was bullied pretty much all through school, I would say there was a tapering off throughout high school. But I would my peak, where it was at its absolute worst was eighth grade. In elementary school, I got a lot from not from other just from other kids, but from teachers to when I got an answer wrong in class, or if I did something wrong.

It seemed like I was getting yelled at and punished a lot. And I'm bringing this up because I'm going to be making a point that it has to do with later on in the story. So that's why I'm bringing this up. you know, I would say I got, you know, detention sent to the principal's office for whatever. I never got suspended because I never did anything that bad that it had required that kind of a punishment. But.

Tim Flynn (01:52.581)

I'm just curious though, detention for what? Like, why would they think they need to give you detention for getting something for an answer wrong?

Erika (01:58.899)

talking out of breath, acting, you know, I guess I was kind of considered, this was in the early eighties. So it was like not, this was before the whole ADHD thing and autism. Yeah. So it was just like, I was just like a kid who acted, just an annoying, bratty kid who acted up, you know, that's all I was seen as. So I was just, you know,

Tim Flynn (02:10.831)

Okay, yep.

Tim Flynn (02:19.067)

Okay.

Erika (02:25.264)

It was just any little thing that I did. One time I got accused of lying by a teacher when I was actually telling the truth and had to write, will not lie on a piece of paper. And after my book came out, I actually looked for some of those teachers because I wanted to like talk to them and explain myself to them and everything. But I haven't had any luck finding any of the ones I've had problems with. So that didn't work out.

In the summer of 1990, my family and I moved in by my family. That's I'm talking me, my parents who were in their mid thirties at the time. I was 12 and my brother was three. So, I was not, I was going to be starting a new school. I had just graduated sixth grade, starting seventh grade in a new school. So I would be starting by myself. I didn't have any siblings in school or relatives in school with me. So I was on my own and.

I struggled in school, making, I struggled making friends. I was always that kid, even in a friend group, I was like the expendable one, you know, the one that just kind of was just there. I did have certain friends throughout my life, but I was never in a clip. I certainly wasn't popular. I would describe myself as being awkward.

Tim Flynn (03:45.351)

Mm-hmm.

Erika (03:53.028)

I would describe myself as being kind of, I think one mistake that I really made and one that I really regret was I was too eager to fit in for people to like me. Like I made it way too obvious. If I could change anything about my behavior, I would definitely change that. So, but I was, I get into seventh grade and I had a little bit of trouble.

Tim Flynn (04:05.562)

Yeah.

Erika (04:18.636)

I wasn't bullied right away. took, but I kind of went from one friend group to another trying to figure out where I fit in. And, I did make friends with this one girl and she was actually in a year, the year, a year younger than me. So that would, was in sixth grade at the time. but the girl who I would end up having serious problems with who became like the main bully.

her name was, well, the name I gave her in the story was Tanya. And Tanya was like, I would say my total opposite in every way. Blonde, pretty, confident. You know, she...

Tim Flynn (04:55.504)

Okay.

Erika (05:09.845)

everybody knew who Tanya was. she just had like the type that just had no, tell you exactly what was on her mind, had no shame, but she could also, she was also very good at putting an act and acting nice and sweet when she had to. She knew how to fool people as well. So seventh grade, Tanya and I did not have any classes together. So I really didn't have any issues with her back then.

Tim Flynn (05:30.396)

Yeah.

Erika (05:37.342)

I would say it started when I failed math class that year and had to go to summer school. And she was in summer school also for something else. And that morning while waiting for class to start, she would talk to me and she would. At first I couldn't, I'll be honest, at first I couldn't tell if she was trying to be my friend or not. I couldn't figure out where she was coming from or what her deal was. You know, she made me a little nervous because

There was but then the more she talked to me the more I noticed she was very like condescending. There was like a condescending tone to her the way she spoke like things like, where do you buy your clothes? Or where do you get your you know, that kind of thing. Like she would like look me up and down how I was dressed or my hair. She always had a comment to make and it made me really uncomfortable. And I was really awkward. so anyway, so

she made me very self-conscious, but I tried not, I didn't, I'll be honest, I didn't know how to handle it. And I was kind of on my own. didn't have like a group of friends to kind of help, you know, protect me or whatever. So I felt very vulnerable.

Tim Flynn (06:53.402)

Yeah.

Erika (06:54.593)

So I ended up passing math and then eighth grade started and she and I had two classes together that year, a homeroom and second period, I believe. And it was throughout the course of that year that her bullying got worse and worse.

She just kept testing her limits and the more she got away with, the further ahead she got. It started with name calling. It started with... And every day she would walk by, she would make a comment about the way I was dressed or the way my hair looked. And one... is the more she got away with, the more aggressive she got.

One day she walked by me, was writing. She elbowed my arm while I was writing and pencil just streaked across the paper. Yeah, and she was, she would another, I remember they were taking pictures for the yearbook and that year we had a lot of, middle school consisted of sixth, seventh and eighth grade. So be going into high school the f**k.

Tim Flynn (08:00.592)

Yeah.

Tim Flynn (08:18.705)

Yep.

Erika (08:20.534)

following year. I know all middle schools are different how they they group the and she would just make comments. Any opportunity she had she this one particular there was a photo session out in the hall somewhere for we had a lot of different sets of twins in school that year. And she walked over she saw me said, I didn't know you had a twin Erica, where's your twin? And then she goes, it's a pile of shit I just saw outside. And just

Tim Flynn (08:49.162)

man.

Erika (08:49.866)

Yeah, just comments like that. is swearing okay? I forgot to ask if...

Tim Flynn (08:57.669)

Yeah, since we're going to be going on a Roku channel pretty soon, I just marked a spot so I can, I'll just mute that part so it's no big deal. But I was told I have some episodes where I have to go through and hit the mute button on certain parts. So yeah, I mean, if it slips up, it slips up, don't worry about it. I'll take it out of the editing.

Erika (09:22.555)

And it got to the point where just I really was, it got worse and worse and I knew that the people who were around me weren't going to help me. I had been hoping that someone would say something or do something, but it was me. I had to kind of take control and go to the principal and go to the counselor I was seeing and

They, you know, she, people only told on her when they absolutely had to. One time she, in the hall, she hit me, knocked the books and papers all, books and papers just flew everywhere. And there was a teacher who, you know, when I was on my knees picking up all my stuff, he was like, he got mad. He yelled at everybody. Okay, who did it? Because I was so upset and frustrated. I couldn't even talk. So he was asking everybody who did it. And then he said,

somebody better talk who did it and then finally somebody I don't know who I don't know who it was but somebody commented Tanya did it and then the thing is is that no matter how many times I told on her or even if she did get caught she never got punished so seemingly she didn't she just

Tim Flynn (10:32.423)

Did she always have, when she was bullying you, did she ever have an audience that she would just do it to get attention?

Erika (10:40.991)

Yeah, she a lot of kids didn't like me and bullied me but I would say she was definitely heads of heads above everybody else.

Tim Flynn (10:46.876)

Okay.

Tim Flynn (10:51.015)

Was she doing it more to get laughs and jokes? Yeah.

Erika (10:54.492)

Yeah. And she did.

Erika (11:00.241)

And it worked. She did. She had no she knew. I think that's why she did it too. She knew with me I was no she knew I was the easiest target because another reason why I think I was an easy target was I didn't have any siblings close to my age. You know, So it's pretty much on my own. I mean my friend she knew about it and everything, but we weren't like I said she was a great younger than me and.

Tim Flynn (11:03.11)

Yeah.

Erika (11:29.311)

At one point, her and the girl kind of were becoming friendly. And then I got scared because she was my only friend. Because I was really worried she was going to turn her against me too. I just was like, what do do? I really have no I I was telling the principal and of course that kind of made it worse because then you're seeing as a big mouth as a tattletale. And when

Tim Flynn (11:37.649)

Yeah.

Tim Flynn (11:57.479)

Mm-hmm.

Erika (12:01.84)

it nothing worked. mean, she got away with everything. One time there was an assembly that was about to start. She was sitting maybe three seats to my left. And before it started, she smiled, she reached over, and she pinched my arm. She pinched and twisted my arm. And so I just remember sitting there just holding my arm and my just, you know, I didn't do anything. I just

Tim Flynn (12:33.083)

Besides telling the principal, did you ever talk to your parents about it?

Erika (12:37.777)

Yes, yes, yes I did.

Tim Flynn (12:41.351)

Did they go to the principal as well?

Erika (12:41.757)

Yeah, yeah, they, they really and my grandmother, my parents and my grandmother tried to help me. It was just, there were some really tough nights of us just, you know, that's one thing about me. I know a lot of kids are afraid to talk and to tell, but I wasn't. I, because I knew I needed help. I knew I needed that. I wasn't going to solve this on my own. It wasn't going to happen.

So I.

Then it got her, like I said, she got worse and worse and she.

She spit gum in my hair more than once. And the school nurse was, I went to the school nurse, she got it out and the nurse's office, the door was open and she walked in and she walked right in the room and said, Erica, I heard what happened. Are you all right?

Erika (13:51.231)

And I put an act and didn't say anything. Because I think that was her way of checking up on me, making sure I wasn't telling on her. And another time I was in the principal's office and the principal suggested that to bring her in and the three of us talk things out. She thought that was going to solve the problem. And I got scared and I said no.

Tim Flynn (14:01.565)

Yeah.

Erika (14:19.962)

because I was afraid what was going to happen to me after that. I thought that was just going to make it worse.

Tim Flynn (14:24.413)

You know, I always wondered why that is like the first go-to thing. Like, we really, if I was being picked on, do I really want to sit next to them and have a talk about my feelings? It happens today in schools too. It's like, why is that the number one go-to thing? Just deal with it. Just discipline them, tell them they need to stop. I did my part.

I don't know why schools do that still. Anyways, carry on. Sorry about that. I just had to say that.

Erika (14:58.774)

No, no, I'm glad you did because I'm curious as to like nowadays if they still do this, how that is handled. you know, and I just going from my experience and I don't want to tell people how to do their jobs, but that doesn't work. And I'm proof that it doesn't work. So

Tim Flynn (15:16.509)

Yeah.

Erika (15:20.805)

Just so you know, there's a few instances that I'm talking to you about that are not in my book, because I had to cut it down quite a bit. So I'm giving you a little bit more than what's actually in the book. About a week before the incident happened, she started messing with me one afternoon after dismissal and

I flipped out, I guess at one point I was actually trying to hit her or swing at her and I missed and she just, once she got me riled up and upset, she got what she wanted, she took off. You know, she got what she wanted was to get me all upset and.

Tim Flynn (16:04.943)

Yeah, and this was before the gum incident, right? That's what we're talking about, before the gum incident. The story of... Okay. Okay. Okay.

Erika (16:11.865)

This was actually no not not the gum the gum had already happened at that point Yeah, and just so you know that these these incidents these that I'm talking about they happen throughout almost the entire year so

Tim Flynn (16:28.839)

Okay, of eighth grade.

Erika (16:31.74)

And I remember I found a teacher or there was a, there was an active, what do you call, there was this one activity after school activity that I was involved in. was like a community service club. And I saw the teacher that was the one who was the head of it. And I ended up talking to her.

Erika (16:56.807)

And I ended up crying. I mean, really like crying, crying. And she hugged me and she said, it's okay, it's all right. And I looked at her and I told her, you believe me, right? Cause it just seemed like there's this whole school full of witnesses and nobody believes me. You know, nobody seems to, but she said, I believe what you're telling me. Yeah. Cause she, guess that was, kind of put her in a tough position too, because she hadn't actually witnessed anything.

Tim Flynn (17:01.713)

Yeah.

Tim Flynn (17:15.622)

Yeah.

Erika (17:27.058)

so she ended up bringing me home because I missed the bun.

Tim Flynn (17:33.021)

So, okay. So this all happened just for time-wise. This all happened pretty much in eighth grade, correct? So what happened in ninth grade? Did she move out of the way or what happened then?

Erika (17:41.931)

Yes. Yes.

Erika (17:48.597)

Well...

I'm getting to the point to what happened and how it finally came to an end. One morning, it was May. This was May of eight. I got up from my desk and it was the end of homeroom and I saw smoke and I didn't know where it was coming from. And I'm like looking and everybody's walking out the door and leaving. So nobody else is apparently seeing what I'm seeing.

Tim Flynn (18:00.102)

Okay.

Erika (18:20.477)

And I looked down at my desk and I saw the ends of my hair and cinders falling on the desk. And at that point, when I saw that it was just me and the teacher in the room, the teacher, I was looking down at his desk and I yelled that my hair was on fire and he just, he looked up and goes, what? And then I didn't even bother to answer. just ran to the principal's office.

Tim Flynn (18:49.117)

she let your hair on fire?

Erika (18:50.761)

Yes, yes, yes.

Tim Flynn (18:53.831)

Was she still in the classroom when that happened?

Erika (18:57.214)

By the time I noticed it, she was already gone.

Tim Flynn (19:01.031)

So she ran away. So what happened to her after that?

Erika (19:05.381)

I get, I got into the room. I held my hair, singed hair up to show them. I was not injured. My skin and my clothes were not touched. It was just the ends of my hair over my, on my, over my right shoulder. And I held my hair up and the secretaries, everybody ran up, got towards me and was looking at it. And they brought me into the principal's room, sent me down. The principal went and called my father.

Tim Flynn (19:16.059)

Yep. Yeah.

Erika (19:34.856)

and I she went she talked she called him she went and talked to me and she said we're gonna get this taken care of don't worry you know and there was no question there was no doubt in my mind that it was her who did it

And I'm going to prove that even further. My teacher finally came around and we were outside of the office talking.

My teacher claimed that he's two people in the classroom witnessed what she did or said it was her. And I said, who were they? And he was like, I can't tell you their names. So that was really frustrating. And then Tanya herself walked over and then said, Erica, heard what happened. Are you okay?

Tim Flynn (20:24.049)

Yeah.

Erika (20:34.194)

in front of the teacher, right in front of him and I.

Tim Flynn (20:38.205)

Mm-hmm.

Erika (20:39.988)

He, do they have any idea who did it? And I said, And he kind of looked at me. He gave me like a side eye to say, yeah, he knew she was lying.

So even though I don't, even if he didn't actually witness her doing it, he did. So then, I...

I did go to the nurse's office. She asked me how much hair came off. And I said it was just some ends of my hair and just some cinders with it. And she said it wasn't a big clump of hair though. And I said, And then I...

There was nothing she could do for me, because there was no actual, beyond that, was no injury. So then I went back to class and by the end of the day, everybody knew what happened.

Tim Flynn (21:44.157)

Yeah.

Erika (21:44.635)

By that afternoon...

Erika (21:50.033)

Tanya ran up to me and she said that they had called the police on her and she ran off crying.

And I don't know why I thought this, but at the point I was kind of surprised that the police were involved. I am not anymore, but I was then. And then I just...

Tim Flynn (22:12.41)

Yeah.

Erika (22:18.192)

I went to ninth period class and then a teacher came in, peeked in, called, said the principal wanted to see me immediately. So I get to the office and there's three people waiting for me. The principal, my father, and a police officer.

Erika (22:40.346)

So.

The officer, principal said, introduced me to the cap, said he wants to get a statement from me. And him and she and my father left the room. And the police officer, I just told the cap what I knew. And.

The thing is, is that, that still to this day does not make sense. Is they couldn't, I was not considered a witness because I did not see it actually happen.

Erika (23:19.499)

but he called in another girl from our class who was sitting right nearby. She told the officer she did not see anything. And he said, I'd be honest, I don't see how she could be right there and not see anything happen. And I asked him, do you think she's covering up for the other girl? And he said, yeah, yes, I do.

Erika (23:46.28)

Tim Flynn (23:46.654)

So I thought there was witnesses though. So now when the cops come, there's no witnesses. So did Tanya get in trouble then?

Erika (23:50.262)

That's what makes no sense to me.

Yeah, it's just

Erika (23:59.468)

She did confess. She did confess. And the reason I know that, the reason I know that is because my father actually saw her statement. And the reason, and by the end of the day, the principal did tell us she was suspended indefinitely.

Tim Flynn (24:02.331)

Okay, good.

Tim Flynn (24:09.254)

Okay.

Erika (24:20.673)

So.

Tim Flynn (24:21.703)

So.

So was that the end of you and Tanya? Is that the end of your bullying experience?

Erika (24:28.158)

Wow.

Erika (24:33.312)

Well, here's the thing, there's so much about this story to this day that makes no sense because the following day, our yearbooks had come in and we were in the hall and we were waiting to pick up our yearbooks and she goes and walks down the hall with her friends like nothing happened. And I was with my friend and I said,

What is she doing here? She was expelled. What is she doing here? And then she said, don't worry. Maybe she just came to get her things, which makes no sense. But I'll be honest with you. I blame myself because I should have gone right back to the principal's office and told them that. yeah, I'll take the blame for that.

Tim Flynn (25:03.42)

Yeah.

Tim Flynn (25:26.403)

Yeah, I don't think I agree with that. I don't think I agree with you take the blame for that. That's not your problem. That's the school's problem. They're the one that suspended her, not you. Obviously, a teacher saw her. So. But, so.

Erika (25:26.462)

but I lived in field.

Erika (25:39.412)

Well, yeah, true.

Erika (25:44.954)

I, this was more, the only thing and the reason why I think she got away with as much as she did is at the end of the day after my father, we left the school, my father told me that her father worked in law enforcement. He had a pretty prominent position in law enforcement. So if that had something to do with it, I don't know.

Tim Flynn (26:08.582)

Okay.

Tim Flynn (26:14.191)

Okay, so we're getting close on time here. So we gotta kind of wrap this up. I got more questions to ask you too about your book. So after this whole incident with Tanya, what happened 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade? Did things kind of calm down a bit for you? Did things get better?

Erika (26:32.346)

Yeah, ninth grade was was tough in the beginning. A few her friends obviously blamed me for telling on her. You know, I'm the one that got her to them. I'm the one that got her expelled. In my book, there's another separate incident of bullying that I write about, but I'm not going to get into that because you said we're short on time. But. But I would say.

Things never really got better for me, but they did taper off. Nobody else pulled anything like that. And I just became more and more of a loner throughout high school. My high school experience was not a happy one. It was not a, you know, it was just do what I need to do to graduate.

Tim Flynn (27:09.873)

Okay.

Tim Flynn (27:25.757)

Mm-hmm. Yeah. So how did this experience affect you today? Or how does, I should say this again. Yeah, how did bullying throughout school affect you today as an adult?

Erika (27:34.171)

Whoa.

Erika (27:42.511)

I would say there's so many ways, really. That's a really loaded question. Reading about children and teenagers taking their own lives due to it, because it's something I thought about doing many times. I considered many times just because I knew, I feel their pain and their fear of walking into school, being afraid of what might happen to them.

and feeling also the frustration when they say, when their parents say the school knew what was happening and didn't do anything.

Tim Flynn (28:23.537)

Okay, so as an adult getting a job, working with people, did any of that experience of being bullied carried over to your work life, how you meet new people? Today, is that still happening today where you still have issues meeting new people, trusting new people?

Erika (28:41.326)

I do, yeah, yeah, for sure. I was bullied by my boss once, you know, and she...

Tim Flynn (28:47.293)

Okay.

Erika (28:51.326)

used to, you know, look for any excuse to tell me I was doing something wrong. And if I wasn't doing something wrong, she'd make something up. So and, you know, I do have friends, but I am careful about who I'm friends with. And

It's the thing that I have the issue. Yeah, very.

Tim Flynn (29:11.495)

So you're cautious. Yeah, you're just being very cautious these days, yeah.

Erika (29:17.584)

Yeah. Yes.

you know, it's like when you go through something like that, when people are your, are friends with you, you don't know what their intentions are or if they're only being friends with you because they feel sorry for you. Cause I always thought like people are, that's a problem I had for a very long time. And to some extent now is you think they're just being nice to me because they feel sorry for me or

Tim Flynn (29:49.31)

Yeah. So what got you to write your story? Actually, let me rephrase that again. I think I make more mistakes than anybody else. So Erica, what made you want to write a book about your experiences?

Erika (30:07.906)

Well, my book is actually a three part story and the bullying is in the first part. I also in my mid thirties experienced a health crisis and you know, had to have a life changing surgery. And then part three is about a trip to Toronto that I took with my mother. And that was also, lot of unexpected stuff happened. And so.

Tim Flynn (30:15.173)

Okay.

Erika (30:37.214)

I would say

those in the very beginning when I was writing the very very beginning rough draft I wasn't even sure if I was gonna include the bullying because it didn't really fit with the rest of the story but I figured here's my chance to finally explain myself explain how people you know how I felt I feel like I'm one of the most misunderstood people so this is my chance to finally explain what this this psychological damage has did to me

and how this affected me. So that's why I edited it and why I included it.

Tim Flynn (31:09.885)

Mm-hmm.

Tim Flynn (31:17.829)

Okay, and what is the title of your book?

Erika (31:21.28)

Missing the Boat, a memoir.

Tim Flynn (31:25.051)

Missing the Boat. How'd you come up with that title?

Erika (31:27.786)

Well, there is an actual boat involved. There in Act 3. Yeah.

Tim Flynn (31:31.717)

Okay, okay, okay. So just focusing on the bullying part. What do you, for act one, what do you hope to accomplish that readers get about bullying?

Erika (31:50.517)

Well, you know, I really think, I'll be honest, I think the adults need to read it. It needs, I think the kids know how serious bullying is, bullying is the kids that are experiencing it. I feel like the adults, especially adults that work in the school system or need to know how damaging this is and how if you ignore it, there are certain kids that some kids might stop on their own. I've had plenty of times where kids who were bullying me just

just stopped. But then there's others like Tanya that won't and that they will keep going and pushing their limit, you know, keep

Tim Flynn (32:22.236)

Mm-hmm.

Tim Flynn (32:31.204)

Yeah. Have you ever wondered why you're bullied by Tanya? Was there ever a reason why she picked you? Usually people pick on you for a reason.

Erika (32:31.614)

Yeah, so.

Erika (32:41.248)

I do. Well, I'm going to just say a couple. Yeah, no, I will tell you one thing. It definitely she was not jealous of me. I was not jealousy because I was nowhere near as pretty, nowhere near as popular. I think that she was the type that liked being the center of attention. And I think she found me that she knew I was she thought of me as someone who was where she's here. She's here. I'm there.

Tim Flynn (32:51.068)

Yeah.

Tim Flynn (33:04.274)

Mm-hmm.

Erika (33:10.887)

And I think she thought, because I was new too and didn't have anybody to stick up for me, I think I was just so easy.

Tim Flynn (33:16.005)

Yeah.

You're, yeah, you're gonna be the butt of her jokes and that's how she's gonna get attention in France, by picking on you. And you happen to be the punchline for everything. Yeah.

Erika (33:25.587)

Yeah.

And it worked.

Tim Flynn (33:33.671)

So Erica, if people want to find your book, Missing the Boat, where can they find it?

Erika (33:41.599)

It's on Amazon. Currently, it's just available in paperback. And I also, I am on Instagram, missing the boat memoir, all one word, missing the boat memoir on Instagram.

Tim Flynn (33:47.965)

Okay.

Tim Flynn (34:00.73)

Okay, and if you want to get a hold of you, ask you more questions or talk to you, just how can they find you?

Erika (34:10.874)

Probably Instagram would be the best way.

Tim Flynn (34:15.471)

Okay, what's your Instagram handle?

Erika (34:19.097)

hold on. Well, the name, they can find me under missing the boat. My handle. one moment.

Tim Flynn (34:26.511)

Okay. Yeah, that's fine.

Erika (34:31.772)

I'll be with you in one moment.

Erika (34:55.612)

You might have to delete, might have to edit this because I'll be honest, I don't know what you mean by the handle. Is it just the name or is it?

Tim Flynn (35:07.041)

yeah, so whatever, if I was to go on Instagram and type, like, are you listed, you know, like, Erica Lowenkopf, or is it Instagram, Erica Lowenkopf, or how do I find you on Instagram?

Erika (35:22.172)

Well, it should say Eric along. I have two pages on Instagram. I have my own page and then I have my Missing the Boat.

Tim Flynn (35:28.581)

Yeah, which page do you want, which people do you want to go to?

Erika (35:32.518)

The Missing the Boat page. it also, the profile picture that I use for that is my cover, my book cover.

Tim Flynn (35:35.407)

Okay, perfect.

Tim Flynn (35:41.437)

All right, excuse me. So I'm going to re-ask that question again and then just say that. So hold on here. I'll mark it.

Tim Flynn (35:51.813)

So Erica, can tell this, I can tell this, personal story of bullying still bothers you today. And there's people out there who wanna connect with you, maybe share their stories with you as well, or learn how to find your book. How can I find you?

Erika (36:10.202)

I'm on Instagram. The name is Missing the Boat Memoir and my name is also going to be there, Erica Lowenkopf. And my profile picture is my book cover. So that's how you'll find me.

Tim Flynn (36:20.637)

Okay.

Tim Flynn (36:25.661)

All right, perfect. And if you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, you'll find her Instagram link in the show description. And if you're watching on YouTube, you saw it go across your screen. Erica, thank you so much for coming on and sharing us your story.

Erika (36:43.12)

Thank you.

Tim Flynn (36:45.457)

Yep, have a good day.

Erika (36:46.81)

You as well. Thank you.