Ilhaam Shaik
Bullying
Kelly: Victim
Mom: Kelly’s Mother
Laura: Bully
Ms. Shelly : Teacher
Scene 1 (Kelly walking to class)
Kelly: (to herself) I think i have packed all the books for the day!
Laura: HEY NERDY!!! Look who’s all prepared for class today!
Kelly: Stop bullying me early morning. Please let me go.
Laura: Hey hey hey! No so fast! Look at what you’re wearing. Poor Kelly. Don’t you have decent clothes to wear?
Kelly: Please just stop annoying me and let me go on with my day.
Laura: I didn’t know school allows poor homeless people. Hahahahaha!
Kelly: *Looking sad and upset, walks away to class.*
Scene 2 (Classroom)
Ms. Shelly: Good morning students!
All students: *Stands up* Good morning ma’am.
Ms. Shelly: Sit down everybody. Kelly, can I have a word with you after class?
Kelly: *Looking nervous and surprised* Okay….miss…
Ms. Shelly: Okay so class, who will tell me about Poverty?
Laura: *Laughs* Kelly is the definition of Poverty.
Kelly: *feeling upset*
Ms. Shelly: That is really mean of you Laura. You better not say anything like that to anybody ever.
Laura: (to herself) Yeah right!
Ms. Shelly: *Goes on with the class*
Scene 3 (Kelly goes to meet Ms. Shelly after class)
Kelly: *knocks on the door* May I come in miss?
Ms. Shelly: Yes Kelly, come in.
Ms. Shelly: Kelly, how are you doing dear?
Kelly: Mmm…miss….I don’t know. Everything seems to be falling apart in my life. My dad is no more, my mom lost her job and we’re under poverty. There’s no money to pay our bills or even buy us meals. There is no money to even buy products for personal hygiene. I get bullied at school for the same.
Ms. Shelly: Oh dear, I’m so sorry that you have to go through all of this. Is there something i can do for you? I actually called you to talk to you about your fees that you haven’t paid. Never mind that as of now.
Kelly: Miss, my financial situation can’t be changed immediately but the least i can expect is to not be bullied for it. As for my fees, I’m unable to even buy meals for myself.
Ms. Shelly: Alright, I’ll look into that. You may go home now. Take care dear.
Scene 4 (Kelly at home)
Mom: Hey Kelly! How was your day at school?
Kelly: Mom….the usual. I get bullied for being poor. My clothes are old and they’re stinking. I don’t have money to get myself some food. I’m so tired of this. When will things get better for us?
Mom: I’m trying dear. I’m trying to get a job as soon as possible.
Kelly: *Walks out of frustration*
Mom: *Cries* I hope things get better for us. But first, I hope things get better for you at school and you stop getting bullied.
Scene 5 (Next day at school)
*Kelly is rushing as she’s late to class. She enters the classroom and sees that nobody is there*
Kelly: *Wondering to herself* where is everybody? *Hears a loud noise and everybody enters the classroom.
All students along with Ms Shelly: SURPRISE!
Ms. Shelly: Dear, I spoke to the students about you and I’ll make sure you don’t get bullied again.
Laura: I’m sorry for always being mean to you. I promise to never do that.
Kelly: *Almost tearing up* Oh, it’s alright.
Ms. Shelly: The students and I have pitched in and we got you some clothes, some fruits and veggies and some body products. I know this won’t get rid of your problems but I’m sure it’ll help you a little at least for a while.
Kelly: *Crying tears of joy* Thank you so much everyone. It means a lot to me.
Laura: I also heard that your mom is a software engineer. Well, my dad’s company was looking for one so your mom has been called for the interview.
Kelly: *Hugs Laura* That means so much to my mom and me. Thank you.
Scene 6 (Kelly goes back home happy)
Mom: KELLY!!! I GOT THE JOB!!! THINGS WILL FINALLY GET BETTER FOR US.
Kelly: I know mom. You’re the best. Look at all these things my classmates got me. They understood what we’re going through and stopped bullying me.
Mom: Oh dear! This is great.
The above role play touches up on various aspects such as unemployment leading to poverty which in turn leads to being bullied at school. Unemployment and poverty occur due to external circumstances but bullying is in control of the bully.
Bullying is a serious issue and a problem that is prevalent in various schools and colleges throughout the world. Bullying impacts the victim mentally as well as physically. The bully derives satisfaction out of bullying.
The causes or reasons for bullying are mostly the own problems of the bully which he/she projects onto the victim.
Victims need to be given space to report such bullies and at the time same time there should be stricter rules and regulations to avoid bullying. Serious action needs to be taken against those found bullying.
Bullying happens due to various reasons such as viewing the victim as someone inferior, the victims financial situation, bully projecting on their insecurities, bully being bullied by someone else, bully being abused at home etc.
This problem can be tackled when all of us come together and be conscious about the people around us and being more empathetic towards them. If we find anyone bullying or being bullied then it must be reported to authorities.
Many keep quiet and lose their lives. Either by suicide due to being mentally disturbed or due to the aggressive physical pain caused by the bully to the victim.
Gradually with more knowledge and education, even this problem shall be completely gone.
