Bullying is never okay. When I was in middle school, some of my friends and I experienced it firsthand. One incident that stuck with me was when one of my closest friends got hit in the back of the head with an apple. He turned his head right before it hit him, but it still made contact. When I looked to see where it came from, I saw two people laughing and turning away.
I checked on my friend right away and told him he should tell an adult, but he didn’t want to make it a bigger deal. I was angry, but he told me to let it go. I tried to move on over the weekend, but I still wanted to know who threw it. So I messaged the two people involved, hoping to get some answers. I did—but instead of owning up to it, they turned on me and started attacking me for asking. I blocked them and left it alone.
The following Monday, they tried to confront and jump me at school. Luckily, they were taken to the office, since it was clear they were the ones escalating the situation.
Situations like this remind me of the tragic story of Adrianna Kuch, a young girl who was bullied by her peers. They not only targeted her in person but filmed the bullying and harassed her online. Despite clear evidence, no meaningful action was taken by the school or law enforcement. Overwhelmed by the pain, Adrianna took her own life. Her parents responded by suing the school district and creating organizations to prevent similar tragedies (Yan).
Schools need to take bullying seriously. Every student deserves to feel safe. If incidents like these continue to be ignored, school districts must involve law enforcement, because bullying, especially when it turns physical or digital, becomes assault and harassment. It’s not just a school issue—it’s a matter of protection and justice.
Work Cited:
Yan, Holly. “She Died by Suicide Days after Being Attacked at School. Now Her Family Is Suing the School Board.” CNN, Cable News Network, 31 Jan. 2024, www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/us/adriana-kuch-school-bullying-lawsuit.