All Girls deserve to Live a life free from sexual Harassment - Veronica 21

"First day in my new school"

I have always had a love for the sciences. I spent my days testing and experimenting with hypotheses, fascinated by the natural world around me. Unfortunately, my small town didn't have the resources to support my inquisitive mind, but my parents found a way to send me to a prestigious private school. I was happy and grateful to them for this opportunity. 

On my first day, I was excited and nervous at the same time. It was a whole other experience. I was scared of leaving home, my parents and everything I was accustomed to. Yet, as I walked through the halls, taking the grandeur of the school's architecture, I knew this was where I was supposed to be. I went to my science class and overheard boys talking about me.

"Catcalling"

"Hey, check out the new girl. She's pretty hot," said one of the boys. The others cat called me.

I tried to ignore them and continued walking, but I could feel their eyes on me. I had heard stories of sexual harassment before but never thought it would happen to me. Over the next few weeks, I noticed that the boys in my class would stare at me, make lewd comments, and touch me inappropriately. I tried to ignore them and tell them to stop, but it became increasingly difficult. I felt like I was being violated every time I walked into class.

"My helpful teacher"

One day, my teacher noticed my discomfort and asked me what was wrong. I confided in my teacher about the harassment, hoping she could make it stop. Instead, my teacher was shocked, disgusted and appalled. She immediately brought the issue to the school's administration, and they launched an investigation. The school had a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and took the matter very seriously.

The boys who were responsible for harassing me were called into the principal's office, and they were given a stern warning. They were told that if they continued harassing me or any other student, they would face severe consequences.

"My relief was short-lived."

At first, things improved for me. The boys stopped harassing me, and I felt I could focus on my studies again. But the relief was short-lived. One day, I received a message on my Instagram account. It was from one of the boys who had harassed me. The letter contained explicit and vulgar language, making me feel sick.

I immediately reported the message to the social media site and my teacher, who brought it to the administration's attention. This time, the school took swift action. The boy who sent the message and his accomplices were all expelled.

"Learning to trust again."

The incident left a lasting impact on me. I felt violated and vulnerable and struggled to trust the people around me. But from this experience, I felt empowered by what I could handle and overcome. I applaud the school for how they dealt with the situation. I knew I had a right to feel safe in school, and I was glad that the school had taken my concerns seriously. Reflecting on my experience, I realize that it has profoundly shaped me. I know that my experience is not unique, and I am determined to make a difference in the lives of others who have been through similar situations.