Casey boy fights back with open letter to bullies who taunted him for two years
An 11-year-old Casey boy who was targeted for almost two years by schoolyard bullies has taken a stand with an emotional letter to the bullies and his classmates.
South East
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A young boy from Melbourne’s southeast has spoken out about how terrible it is to feel fear at school.
Rikki, 11, who lives in Casey, said he was tormented for several months — kicked in the schoolyard, taunted with “horrible names” and continually excluded at lunchtime.
“One time a kid held my arms and they kicked me until I fell over, they called me a loser and would tease me when I played football by calling me a bad kicker,” he said.
“I would also get regularly punched in class sometimes — I felt so alone.”
In a defiant move, Rikki penned an open letter to the bullies to help spread awareness and assist victims. It was given to teachers on his last day as his parents were moving him to another school.
In his letter, Rikki said: “I didn’t tell someone for a long time because even when I did the teachers didn’t help and when the kids found out that I told on them they would get even worse. I started to feel embarrassed. I started to change a lot and I was really upset with how I was changing.”
Rikki, who has now started at another school, said he was “enjoying it so much” and had made new friends.
“I’ve made new friends and I really enjoy going to school again.”
“For anyone who’s being bullied out there, all I want to say is walk away from them as they just want a reaction. The bully is the one with the problem not you.”