Samantha ’s story: Partnering with BACPAC program to end bullying

During the fifth grade when Samantha was 10 years old, she was bullied by a male classmate. She remembers walking through the halls of her elementary school and hearing the bully call out these words: “Why are you on this earth? You don’t deserve to be alive.” The bullying followed her every day. “I didn’t want to go to school because I knew he would be there. I was afraid,” says Samantha, now 12. Weeks into the school year, the harassment and intimidation escalated and turned physical. “It was usually mental [abuse], but at one point in fifth grade the bully came up to me, and he punched me on the back,” says Samantha quietly. This was the breaking point. “I had enough,” says Samantha’s mother Karen. “The verbal and physical abuse needed to stop.” Samantha and her mother reported the incident to the school and the police resource officer. Another student, who witnessed the physical bullying, stepped forward and also reported the incident to the school. The bully was reprimanded by the officer; however, no further action was taken by Samantha’s school. Although the daily torment ended, Samantha’s respite was temporary. The bully’s verbal aggression resurfaced, and it started to impact Samantha’s schoolwork, self-esteem and overall health. Karen says her daughter exhibited many of the warning signs of being bullied — depressed mood, physical ailments and school avoidance. “It started small with her belly hurting. Then sh...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Teen Health ADHD autism bullying Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Advocacy Collaborative Department of Neurology Learning disabilities Peter Raffalli Source Type: news