emotionally strong is holding yourself together even when it seems that you can't. it's the first step because you're not born physically strong. you need to build up that strength. there are challenges in the process of becoming strong. there are people that bring you down. but as you become physically stronger, you're also building up emotional strength. in the end, you a r e physically strong, which is what you wanted. but you also are emotionally strong. you can deal with certain things because you've been there, because you've gotten used to it, because you can handle it now.
so it's not an "unnecessary" first step. it is actually sort of important.
why are you beating up your classmates?