“What if the person breaking you is someone you’re expected to trust? What if the place that’s supposed to feel safe becomes the very place you learn to stay silent?”
Bullying doesn’t always come from strangers. Sometimes, it comes from familiar faces, people who know your name, your routine, even your weaknesses. And when that happens, the pain cuts deeper, the silence grows heavier, and the confusion becomes harder to escape.
This isn’t just another story about bullying.
This is MY story and the truth I wish someone told me sooner.
As someone who experienced bullying and harassment firsthand, especially from my own cousins in the same school when I was younger, I can firmly say this: bullying is NOT a trend, and it should never be normalized.
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Yes, I’ve grown into a mature and strong woman today. But the truth is, the scars it left didn’t simply disappear. Some wounds stay, but they run deep. And no child... NO PERSON... deserves to carry that kind of pain.
Back then, I thought I could stop the bullying by pleasing them, by becoming someone they would accept. I tried to be their “puppy,” thinking that obedience would earn me peace.
It didn’t.
And if you’re a child going through this right now, hear me clearly: that is NOT the solution. I also made a mistake. I stayed silent. I didn’t tell my parents. And that silence cost me more pain than I deserved. So if you’re being bullied, I’m speaking to you not just as someone who survived it, but as your aspiring attorney, 
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Tell someone who can truly help.
Not just your peers. You need protection, not gossip. Go to your parents or guardians first, 'cuz you know they have the power and responsibility to protect you. If that’s not possible, reach out to a trusted teacher, school head, or any responsible adult. You deserve to be heard, and they are accountable for your safety.
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2. Stay away from the bully when possible.
Avoid places where you’re most likely to encounter them. Don’t walk home alone if you feel unsafe. Surround yourself with people you trust. Safety is not weakness, it’s wisdom.
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3. Do not fuel their behavior.
Bullies often seek reactions. Don’t give them the satisfaction. Stay calm as much as you can, and avoid engaging in arguments that could escalate the situation.
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4. Don’t isolate yourself.
Being alone can make you more vulnerable. Stay connected with supportive people. You are not meant to fight this battle alone.
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5. Be firm and set boundaries.
Look them in the eye and tell them to STOP. Clearly. Confidently. And if they continue, report them immediately. Speaking up is not DISRESPECT, but SELF-RESPECT.
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6. Don’t pass the pain forward.
Never release your anger on someone else just to feel better. Hurt people (bullies) sometimes hurt other people (victims) but you can choose to break that cycle.
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Everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and happy. Let me say this clearly: It is not your fault that you are being bullied.
You cannot control how others behave but you can choose how you respond and who you trust.
From my own story, I learned that silence protects the wrong people. When I finally opened up to my loving and protective parents, everything began to change and I never regretted that decision.
There was a time when I believed I was the problem. That maybe I didn’t fit in. That maybe I wasn’t “enough.” But the truth is, there was NEVER a valid reason for them to bully me. I was not less. I was not weak. I was not unworthy.
And neither are you.
It has been nine years since that painful chapter of my life. Today, I stand as a confident woman who speaks up for what is right. As a public speaker, addressing bullying in all its forms has become one of my advocacies because this is a conversation that needs to be heard, loudly and clearly.
I may not be a parent yet (cuz I'm 18 and no time for romantic relationship haha), but I don’t need to be one to understand pain, to stand for truth, or to offer guidance. Experience has given me a voice and I intend to use it.
To every child out there who is hurting right now:
Please don’t lose hope.
You are not someone’s emotional punching bag.
You are not weak.
You are not meant to be stepped on.
You are human. You are valuable. You are worthy of respect.
There are people who care about you even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. And one day, this painful experience will not define you... it will refine you. So stand up. Speak out. Protect your peace.
You’ve got this. And I believe in you.