I was bullied for most of the years of secondary school, so much so that at the age of 13 I attempted suicide.
Having to go to school each day was a frightened experience; I would shake while brushing my hair on a morning, knowing what was awaiting me. I had to travel to school by bus; thankfully none of the bullies were on it. But as soon as my feet touched the schools ground, they were waiting, predators preying on their victim, waiting to pounce, ready for the kill.
The only place I felt safe was locked in a toilet cubicle, which I did most break times and much of the lunchtime hour. I would even ask to leave lesson early, complaining I was going to be sick, just so I get into that cubicle before the bell rang.
I never ate at lunch at school, facing them in the dining hall was too much, having food thrown on me; being tripped over as I carried my tray was never a good experience. To this day I have an eating disorder; food has been the only thing in my life I could control.
My school did nothing to stop these bullies, even after I was absent from school for 8 weeks following the overdose I took. No safety measures were put in place for me, I was expected to return to school ass if nothing happened and was thrown into the lion’s den once more.
The bullies stopped bullying me once I returned to school, not because of fear of punishment, more so because I became a changed person. The depression had taken hold of me and I was no longer afraid of them, the anger that had built inside of me was raw and I believe they knew, I was a time bomb waiting to go off, they stayed clear.
Schools need to provide a staffed safe room, somewhere safe for children who are fleeing bullies can go too. I understand that teachers are busy but trusted pupils who have taken a course in dealing with bullies would be a godsend and such a benefit to schools.
