“If I were taller and more attractive. If I weren’t so shy. If I were stronger and tougher… then others wouldn’t have pushed me away. They wouldn’t have teased me. They wouldn’t have played with me.”
The cruelty of other children often turns, in a child’s mind, into a tormenting thought: that they must have done something wrong, that if they were different, this behavior wouldn’t have happened. But this is not true. No child — and no person — attracts being bullied.
Bullying happens because some children (and adults) have learned that violence is an acceptable, “funny,” or clever way to interact with others. Very often, this happens because they themselves have experienced violence as something normal. So, they can become cruel, simply repeating what they know, without realizing how it feels for another child — how violent and painful it can be for another soul and what consequences it may have.
Bullying generates sadness, shame, disappointment, fear, and loneliness. It creates thoughts like “I’m not worthy” or “I’m not enough” at a critical age when the foundations of self-esteem, social skills, and relationships with others are forming. That is why it affects children and adolescents so deeply — and often for a long time.
No one who feels secure in themselves needs to hurt or belittle someone else. Usually, behind the violence are children who themselves have been hurt, who struggle to manage their feelings — a disappointment at school, the thought that “I’m not a good enough student, child, son, or daughter.” So unconsciously, they try to unload what they feel onto someone else — onto a child who, at that moment, seems like an easier target.
The most important thing for a child, teenager — or even an adult — experiencing bullying is to speak up and ask for help. Shame often causes victims to remain silent, carrying the burden of violence that does not belong to them. But there is always someone who can — and must — help.
Many well-known people have spoken openly about the bullying they experienced. Among them is Shawn Mendes, who has described how he was teased at school when he shared his music with classmates. When he uploaded his first songs on YouTube, classmates would call him in the hallways to “sing for them” in a way that made him feel embarrassed and “stupid,” as if what he loved had no value. But he didn’t give up. With the support of friends and family, he continued making music, and these experiences ultimately became part of his strength. Today, he uses his voice to encourage others to follow their dreams, no matter what others say.
In Greece, the framework for school violence has been strengthened. School bullying is recognized as something serious that is not allowed, and schools are obligated to intervene to protect students. If you are experiencing bullying, you can report it to your school or anonymously through the stop-bullying.gov.gr platform, where specialists can help. You can also call SOS Line 1056 (“Hamogelo tou paidiou”) and European Child & Adolescent Helpline 116111 free of charge, 24/7, to speak with someone who will listen and support you.
Asking for help is not “telling on someone” or a sign of weakness — it is a way to protect yourself and you have a right to feel safe.
