The Bully Experience; my freedom story

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I don’t know how long I held my breath, all I know is I exhaled loudly as he left because I half expected a dirty slap in retaliation...

I was bullied a lot as a kid. I was sad, angry, afraid, and didn't want to do anything about it. The bullying I endured made me feel worthless but for some weird reason, my studies were not in the least bit affected.

Bullying is a major issue in schools today. It can be physical, verbal, or emotional. It is a problem that affects many individuals. The bully is usually someone who is insecure, has low self-esteem, or is just downright mean. If you ever dealt with a bully, or you’re currently dealing with one, you're probably thinking;

" Why? Why did they choose to treat me this way? Or Why are they doing this to me?" I know how you feel and I am so sorry you feel this way.

I was bullied through primary school to high school by a particular group of boys who were literally mean to almost everyone. That was one of the most traumatic experiences I ever had.

I remember feeling so bad for myself that I wanted to hide away in my room and cry when I got home every day, and I didn’t want to go to school for several days. I was convinced that I would never be happy again. I had a difficult time getting my self-esteem back after the whole episode.

There was one who stood out amongst them, Ayuba. While the other guys outgrew their bully phase, Ayuba kept bullying me. But I turned it around the very minute I found strength in myself.

Those bullies made me want to be stronger. They made me want to be better. I learned that no one should have to endure bullying. I remember the very day that I broke free from my bullies.

As usual, Ayuba was seated right behind me just so he could pull my collar, knock my head, pinch my neck or even tap my head aggressively. For some weird reason, the continuous shoving of my head and pulling of my collar such that it was like a choker around my neck. I had pleaded with him a few times to let me be but he refused.

I felt so much anger and confusion. I wanted to go to a teacher but I was afraid that he’d come for me afterward. Secondly, I was also afraid to go to a teacher because I didn’t want to be seen as a troublemaker.

I am unsure of how I managed to do it or where the strength came from. All I know is that my hand moved at the speed of light and landed directly on his cheeks. It was so loud that the entire class went completely quiet for a minute as all heads turned to look in my direction.

Ayuba was in shock and I saw him place his palm on his cheek with his tear-filled eyes repeatedly saying ‘You slapped me Omosefe’.

It has been said that for every moment, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is no more true than when it comes to bullying. Bullies might think that they're all-powerful and that their victims are completely powerless. Best believe it’s not too late to change.

To be very honest with you, it wasn't a triumph I felt, it was fear, fear of what Ayuba and his gang would do to me. Surprisingly, he walked away to hide the tears. I don’t know how long I held my breath, all I know is I exhaled loudly as he left because I half expected a dirty slap in retaliation.

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My bestie at the time, Abisola, walked up to me with the biggest smile, she looked straight into my eyes and said to me “I am proud of you Omosefe”. This was all I needed to understand the gravity of what I had done.

Don’t get me wrong, violence or revenge is not the right way to go, but sometimes… sometimes you have to stand up for yourself and put an end to the menace.

That one slap was the end of everything, the beginning of a new dawn. If only I had known, I would have landed that slap on his cheeks way before I did. Avoiding bullies by standing up for yourself is a good way to deal with them.

If you or someone you know is being bullied, don't be afraid of telling someone about it. Just please do not go through it alone.

PS: Thank you for reading!