«I got you a rope»

"In third grade, I was put in a new class because I had to repeat. The girls who set the tone made it clear to me that I wasn't welcome. I thought that would blow over, as this class would stay together until seventh grade. I spent the break on the sidelines and kept quiet in class. The girls' clique saw this as confirmation that I was a weirdo. Later, they used the boys for their own purposes: I was pushed, spat at and hit on the way to school. Even in the toilet, where I spent my breaks. I learnt to push the pain away. I didn't tell my parents, I didn't want to burden them. From the seventh grade onwards, the attacks also came via WhatsApp. Ranking lists of girls' looks were sent around, with me in last place. One message said I was using oxygen unnecessarily, another said he had got me a rope. I went to see the school social worker. He asked me about the colour of my aura, I was confused. One day I fell and cut my arm open to the bone. My mum only realised when she was tending to the wound. She couldn't believe that I hardly felt any pain. Then everything burst out of me. I transferred to a public school. For a year, I was happier than ever before. Many young people were at this school like me because of bullying and other problems. Some of them confided in me and I became absorbed in listening to them. The class teacher praised me for being good with people. As a result, I was used as a mediator in conflicts and then I was promoted to master pupil because of my grades. Thanks to this title, I was allowed to use my mobile phone in class, for example.

«I hardly slept at all and no longer saw any meaning in life.»

Anna, 16

At some point, the mood changed and the others turned their backs on me. One of my classmates threatened to kill me. I was excused from class several times in the third year, but the lies and rumours continued via chat. I hardly slept at all and no longer saw any meaning in life. Today I'm better - thanks to regular therapy, my family, who didn't leave me alone, and new friends who have stuck by me. I'm doing a gap year and have been accepted for an apprenticeship. I would advise anyone who suffers from bullying to get help. Break the silence! Life is worth living."

This is how Anna's parents experienced the terrible time:

Whentheir daughter Anna, 16, became a victim of cyberbullying, Christine and René had the school management on their side - until the parents of the bullies got involved. Read their report here: «We were left alone»