Bullying at Day Camp
“I didn’t realise my experience was childhood bullying and trauma until recently.
When I was 6 years old, I went to a day camp organised by my primary school. Lots of children went as it was a mix of all the year groups through the school.
I remember feeling like the drive to the day camp went on forever. There were two boys, a lot older than me, laughing, teasing and bullying me about something. They thought it would be funny to pin me down and take off my shoes and socks. I kicked and shouted but, they didn’t stop.
They laughed as I struggled, taking more and more pieces of clothing off me. They didn’t stop until the coach stopped, and we had arrived at camp. Everyone got off, apart from the two boys who then threw my clothes in the air, I felt humiliated.
An adult came to check if the coach was empty. I was just sat there in my pants, with my vest half on, totally embarrassed! I thought the adult saw the bullying and would help me. Instead, she just shouted for me to get dressed – said how silly I was for taking my clothes off.
I don’t remember the rest of the day or much about the boys after that.
To be honest, I completely forgot about the whole situation until years later, when I started secondary school. I saw the same two boys! They looked in my direction and seem to recognise me. They laughed and waved. I just froze. At that moment, it was like I went back in time to camp and relived the bullying in a split second. I only realise now, as an adult, that I had been assaulted by these boys.”
– Anonymous
If you have experienced bullying or childhood trauma and would like to speak to someone, please get in touch!