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Hello!
Cosmo Girl
“I never fitted in at school. I was treated as different and just got picked on . It all started when I was 12 with name-calling – I guess I stood out cos I had an unusual name and looked foreign. My dad’s Persian and I get my dark features from him. At the time there was trouble in the Middle East and the bullies started to call me “Saddam”. It really hurt cos not only did everyone hade Saddam Hussein but also my grandparents suffered at the hands of his regime. I felt angry and alone. I couldn’t tell my parents cos I thought it’d hurt them and was worried it would get worse if I told a teacher.
Things got worse when I helped a guy in the year below who was being picked on by the bullies. Suddenly they turned on me. They pinned me down and beat me up. I was defenceless and they kicked and hit me ‘til I was bruised and bleeding. But what hurt the most was the guy who spat on me as the others ran away. I’ll never forget that.
The bullying went o for four years. Things got so bad I faked illness to get off school. I told Mum and Dad my bruises were from rugby. But looking back, I wish I’d said something. No-one has the right to make you feel so unhappy.
The one good thing that came out of the bullying was that it made me determined to succeed – to prove them wrong. And I’ve definitely done that! Last May, I checked into a hotel in Glasgow, and realised the bellboy was one of the bullies. The amazing thing was that he asked me for my autograph. It was the best feeling!”