Alex's Answer
Nervous about going back to school
Your Question
I’m nervous about going back to school because I get bullied my mam said to ignore them but I’m so scared and I find it hard to ignore them and cope
Answer
Hello, you are very welcome to Ask Alex.
Thank you so much for trusting us with your thoughts. We know it is not always easy to do so.
You say you are nervous about returning to school, as you get bullied. You also mention that you find the bullies hard to ignore and you find it hard to cope.
It is very understandable that you are scared and nervous about returning to school. You have the right to be safe and happy in school. Have you ever spoke to a teacher about the bullying? It is your teachers and principal job to make sure that you are safe when you are in school. Every school should have an Anti-Bullying policy. Anti-bullying policies set out the requirements for schools in relation to preventing and dealing with bullying behaviour. Bullying can happen to anyone at any time. Nobody has the right to hurt you or make you feel bad about yourself. No matter what the reason, bullying is not okay, and it is not your fault.
You mention your mam told you to ignore the bullies, and we know that can be extremely difficult. It is important that you get the support you rightly deserve. Would you consider talking to your mams again about your feelings on returning to school? Maybe talking to another trusted adult would be easier for you. This adult could be an aunt, uncle, or grandparent, a teacher, or guidance counsellor. You have the right to talk about what is happening for you in school, the right to be listened to, and the right to be heard. If you tell somebody and nothing is done, then you have the right to talk to another person, and another until your situation in school is sorted for you.
The Childline website has some articles on friendships and bullying which you may find useful: www.childline.ie/friends/; www.childline.ie/bullying-abuse-safety-and-your-rights/
You do not have to go through this alone. Childline is here for you and we really would love to listen to you. At Childline we focus on you and what is important to you. The services are free and available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Team do not judge anything you say but will listen to everything you wish to share. You can contact us through our telephone service 1800 66 66 66, through our text service on 50101, or by web chat that you access through the website www.childline.ie.
We hope to hear from you soon. Take care of yourself,
Alex