- A memory from when I was eleven years old
One of my best friends was bullied by some girls from our
school. The situation was resolved, thankfully, but there was an awkwardness
between my best friend and the particular group of girls. No one deserves to be
bullied, and I have always been certain of this. When something horrible
happens to someone close to us, though, we can be even aware of our already-held
opinions (even though we should always concern them). My opinions of these girls were altered and I was angry my best
friend had gone through it. The memory I want to draw focus on, though, is
this: When the girls approached my best friend, a while after the situation was
“resolved”, with an apology, my best friend accepted it. Easily. She smiled, and called
her once “friends”, friends again.
- A memory from when I was twelve years old
A girl in my class experienced a lot of heartless cruelty by
our peers – cruelty to this day that sickens me – and as much as the teachers
were aware of it, as much as myself and others tried to make the comments stop,
they did not. I do not consider myself worthy of five gold badges for my
actions and so please do not consider myself as one who believes I am a hero
when I write this next memory. I do not. One comment was said to the girl in my
presence and someone I respected laughed. I turned and glared at him (I am the
master of a glare in a situation I do not agree with) and when he continued
laughing, hoping for approval of some sort and I made it clear I was not
impressed, the boy’s smile and laugh stopped instantly. As another comment
rolled by, he began to tell someone off for their actions.
- A memory from when I was seventeen
When I was leaving school once, I witnessed a situation
involving girls maybe three or four years younger than me. I’d like not to
defend what I did but I was very confused about what was happening so
really didn't know how to take the situation- so I try not to tell myself off too much, as angry as I was at myself at the time. I was sat at a bus stop,
waiting for my bus to get home. Some schoolgirls past me, being quite loud and
boisterous, but all seemingly finding whatever was happening quite funny. I was
suddenly a little aware of one of the girls being the butt of the joke, and
maybe not being part of their group, as I heard some of their comments. Really
unsure of what was happening, I got on my bus that turned up. Regretfully,
things seemed to get all the more unfair for the girl that was that but of
the joke. It was safe to say I felt incredibly sick and ashamed of myself for
not acting sooner. The girl looked distraught as they shouted her and were obviously saying horrible things. (Please read on to find out that I tried to amend my
wrongdoing.)
The morals I learnt
from these memories (which at the time were very much “here and now”
situations) have definitely taught me lessons in abundance.
When my friend accepted the apology of the girls who bullied
her, not long after, when we were alone, she said she saw they were sorry and
she wanted to move on. The girls were horrible to her, but once they apologised
I know not of an occasion where they were ever malicious again. My best friend
took their apology and was so very graceful about it (I am thankful their apology and actions that followed were sincere but naturally this is not always the case). This taught me acceptance and courage and the freedom of
letting go of a grudge. When a girl in my class was bullied and the boy clearly
was ashamed of his actions, his decision to then try and stop cruel comments was one that was
something so good. Naturally, he should not have supported the bullying in the
first place, but he learned. And the third memory, although one of my biggest regrets,
taught me a lot. I was very distraught after the incident and as soon as I got
home, I emailed the headteacher of my sixth form, attached to the school of the
group of girls, which was also my college. I had a meeting with her and told her the story, in the hope
that it would be resolved. Although still ashamed, I hope I had amended my
ignorance.
I thought I’d talk about some things that are wuite personal
to me, even if they are predominantly about someone else.
Putting Right & Moving On,
The Girl in the Moonlight.
♡ #1
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