Drama: A Key To My New Life

23rd February 2006

My name is John Carsley, I was one of the cast members in ‘BANGED OUT’.

My drama teacher put me forward for the auditions. We had to use improvisation to show what skills we had. I didn’t get a lead role in the play, but my part was nearly as important as theirs. My part in the play was to be in the background, trying not to be involved in it, while my friend encouraged it to go on.

While doing this play, I watched how realistic it was. It was only then that I decided that I should tell someone that I was being bullied. It was the end of the first lesson, I went up to my teacher and came out with it I can’t remember what I said but got really upset about it. I went around telling all of my teachers about it, especially my science teachers because that’s where it happened. Most of my teachers understood and helped me but one wasn’t very helpful. I never ask for someone to help me, I told them I could sort it out. But I might have liked it if someone else had sorted it out for me, you see I was afraid of their friend. I had seen him hit someone before and I didn’t want to be his new victim. At the end of the school day it was time to go home. Later that night I picked up the courage to tell my mum. When I did, my mum was very upset that I didn’t mention it earlier. You see I had been picked on from year 7 to year 11.

I was a normal person trying to learn, didn’t enjoy it but knew I had to do it. They didn’t like others wanting to learn so they called us ‘geeks’ and ‘teachers pet’ and other things as well. Getting pushed around the corridors. Getting knocked down on the way home, People trying to trip me up. That I could handle. The same was for half of year 10. Until two lots of boys made it their job to harass me until I did something. One lot said they wanted to do things with me. It made me sick and angry I wanted to turn round and hit them. But that would not help the situation. It kept going on, every science lesson until I reached out for someone to listen.

After telling everybody I knew, my confidence began to grow. The second lot of people really annoyed me in one lesson. So I spoke in a loud and clear voice, ‘would you stop doing that please.’ The teacher heard me and moved him away from me. He came up to me and said, ‘I’m going to beat you up after this lesson.’ I replied, ‘why wait till then, if your going to hit me, hit me now.’ He was a bit confused that I could stand up for myself. So he said, ‘you’re taking it too seriously we were only joking.’ What power I had within me, I felt on top of the world. I could control some of the things that were happening to me.

You should always remember that teachers, parents and friends are always there for you. So put a stop to it today and TELL SOMEONE. You will be surprised how good you’ll feel.

I would like to thank Robert Higgs because if it wasn’t for him I would not be the person I am now. I suggest that more head teachers should book seminars with him, because he will help a lot of children out there. After all he helped me.