Cruelty to children by children (Bullying in Schools)

Member Name: gaultier100

Product:	Bullying in Schools
Date:	28/02/01 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Made me stronger

Disadvantages: Mentally destructive

Unlike many people I was bullied at the age of 14 until I left secondary school. I eventually worked out that the two girls who made my life hell were simply jealous of me. But just because I knew why they did it, didn't mean that I could stop it. I told my parents and the school. I went to countless meetings with them and their parents who couldn't comprehend that their little girl could possibly saying and doing such terrible things. It didn't help that one girl's father was a church minister and saw me as a little trouble maker who was trying to sully the name of his hollier than thou family. I never came to any physical harm although the threats to beat me up were enough to make sure I left school as soon as I could. I became suicidal at one point mainly because I could never see an end to the torment. Fortunately I had the support of friends and I soon realised that I just had to ride it out because the school were never going to help despite their anti-bullying policy which threatened exculsion. That never happened.

If I could say that nothing good came of this though, I'd be lying. The experience has made me more determined to suceed in life and to never let anything get in my way. Because if you want something badly enough, you'll get it. The best 'revenge' is to suceed I think. The downside is that as a person, it's made me harder and less inclined to trust people and I'm constantly on the defensive.

I'd like to think there is a cure for bullying but there are only ways to combat it. We need to teach our children to be more tolerant of others and set a good example ourselves. Schools need to be more aware of the problem instead of turning a blind eye. My school made me doubt my own experiences. It can be done but not overnight and not with the attitudes that most people have to other cultures, races and those who are different.

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