Say No to Bullying

One day, you find yourself walking into a hallway of a big building with many rooms filled with kids and they are called students. Soon, you find yourself sitting among strangers who you will be referring to as friends. How come a stranger becomes a friend? There are many answers but my answer can be because of their hearts. As kids, we look for people who wouldn't judge us or bring out our flaws to the surface.

However, you will find other students who will choose by default to bring out your flaws and use them against you. They will try to turn your school days into a living hell; only to satisfy their unjustified needs due to a lack they have and they try to fulfill it with bullying. 

The term "Bullying" in Libya isn't addressed but it is widely noticed and, this time, I am shedding light on bullying in schools. It has been happening to many generations, in both public and private schools; it is similar to passing on the torch from one generation to another. It has traumatic effects on students and it leaves scars that students will carry with them forever.

Lately, a friend reached out to me and told me about her struggle with bullying which she has been suffering with for so many years. Bullying is real and it is not a joke. It is not funny to make fun of others because of their looks, clothes, the way they speak, or for any reason. Schools are created to be places for knowledge, development, and growth. Some consider it a safe place and a getaway from whatever they might go through at home. 

Bullying can turn a calm student into an angry and provocative person by any word said. Some tend to use violence to solve any sort of problems. It messes up the mindset and also the self-esteem and with time, you will find the student enclosed into himself/herself. Unfortunately, nothing is done by the administrations in schools or the Ministry of Education; it is taken for granted.

I am wondering why there aren’t any organizations or officials addressing this problem in Libya. I wouldn’t speak for the entire world because I know it is a global issue and we have heard about a majority of tragedies caused by bullying. I think that there must be a full program designed by different schools to end bullying and there should be some kind of collaboration with social counselors to work intensively on this issue. Bullying is a long term crisis.