I was the new kid in 5th grade. Coming from a Catholic School, the transition to Public School was rather difficult but things were only going to get harder.
I was in Catholic School since Kindergarten and had lots of friends and everyone was nice, for the most part. I always had someone to talk to and sit with at lunch and play with at recess. It was a much easier time then and I loved school, I always wanted to be there. I wish it could have stayed like this.
My family lived in a bad and dangerous neighborhood which is why I never went to public school. In the back of my mind I had always wanted to experience public school. I was soon afforded this opportunity when my mom found a new apartment in a better neighborhood for us to live.
That September I started my first day of public school. I was excited but also nervous. This was the first school year that I had rode a school bus and I had already made a few "friends"; on the bus and at the bus stop. Everything was good so far.
When I got to the school I was confused because it was rather big. I found my classroom ok and I introduced myself to the class. Everything was still good as I seemed to get a good response from the other students.
Trying to find someone to sit with at lunch was another struggle, until this boy invited me to sit with him. He seemed like a good friends and, so far, the only student who would talk and hang out with me. The next day was the beginning of a nightmare.
Ever since I sat with that boy at lunch people started rumors that "we were dating," we liked each other," we were kissing," etc. Now, I know these rumors don't seem all that horrible to you but to someone who was very sensitive and very naive to bullying, they hit me like a train.
These rumors lasted throughout 5th grade. I was terrified to go to school and went home crying everyday. My public school experience was terrible so far. When my mom realized what was going on she called the principal. This only made it worse for the principal only gave the bullies a slap on the wrist, a "don't do it again" talk. It wasn't taken seriously and the whole situation effected my life drastically.
I always have that thought in the back of my mind that maybe if I had reacted differently I wouldn't be suffering with the problems I have today. This may not be true but the bullying definitely lit a fire under them.
It's sad to say that I still get bullied to this day. I am pretty desensitized to it now and, quite frankly, I don't care what people say about me because I know my worth. This does not mean that it's still not an issue. Bullying is real, bullying is serious, and should be taken as such. It needs to end.
