Hiya. I know most of the questions you get are sexual oreintation related, mines different than that. About five months ago I switched to homeschool, because of bullying and a couple other reasons. One reason I wanted to stay was because of music oppertunities. Like being in talent shows, etc. But almost everyday I got called names such as "Vampire" , "Emo" , "Gay" , "Retarded" and so on. Being called those names honestly made me just feel helpless and useless and angry. And when I would tell adults about this they would just brush it off as if it werent important. It seemed as if that if I wasnt getting physically bullied they didnt care. I even told the councelor, I swear it felt like she didnt care. Homeschooling is alright, but I still feel like my dreams will not be acheived if I stay here. I am somewhat nervous to even think about going back to public school. My dream is to be a musician. During the whole bullying situation I was depressed kind of and the only thing that seemed to make me happy was playing and writing music. I've realized that I need to be a musician, like it's my "calling" in life. Haha but I feel like you can only persue that by going to a public school or a performing arts school. I'm just not sure what to do. Music is litterally my life, but I hate bullies and getting bullied. What do you think?
Signed,
ThatOnePerson, 14, Barberton OH
That One Person, We are sorry to hear about the bullying. BUllying has become a tremendous problem.. Ineffective responses by school administrators compounds the problem. While home schooling is a partial solution, being sure to get social time with friends is vitally important. IF you wish to become a musician, there are opportunities outside of public schools. You could find some private teachers. Have you chosen an instrument? Musicians spend hours practicing and perfecting their technique. Set a goal. Come up with a plan. Being an artist provides you with a great way to channel all of the negativity from the bullying into a positive venture. As an artist, you would be taking something destructive and transforming it into a positive expression. USing art to cope with stress is a great choice. As far as how to deal with the bullying in your school, you could start by talking with an adult at school such as a the principal, school counselor or school administrator as it is their job to make sure you and others are not being harassed or bullied by students, teachers or anyone and that you feel safe in school, so if you feel comfortable, please bring it to their attention immediately. There are a number of organizations that work specifically in schools to address homophobia and transphobia against LGBT students. One such organization is the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) which works to ensure safe schools for ALL students. On their website at www.glsen.org click on "what we do" where you can find programs which may help people in your school become more understanding and supportive of you. Trevorspace, at www.trevorspace.org, is the Trevor Project's safe, online social networking site for LGBTQ young people ages 13 to 24 their friends and allies. It's a great supportive community where you can connect with others who might have had or are having the same questions that you’re having about your sexuality and dealing with bullying.