From the vantage point on the sidelines, I watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart.
The girl was downcast, and she stood alone against the lockers as the boys voice boomed through the hallway. “Why even bother coming to play football? Why bother to show up? You’ll never ever fit in”, he taunted. His words echoed from the walls and were punctuated by the laughter of his friends . Stand up, my conscience urged, yet I remained silent, a bystander that was paralysed by her own insecurities.
The boy continued. “You think you’re special, no you’re not.” Each word was a dagger, and I could see the pain it inflicted on her spirit. Yet, she held her head high, her silent not a sign of defeat but strength. She may not have spoken that moment, but her composure spoke volumes. The girl found her voice quiet yet unwavering tone. “Your words may be loud, but they do not define me. I am more than the labels you throw at me and more than the box you put on me”. Her word was a declaration of her inner strength. “You see me as a target, but I am a warrior in my own right.”
Today, I speak not just for myself but for women everywhere. To all women out there who have endured such words. Know this. Your strength is immeasurable. You’re the architect of your own stories. No bully, no torture, no sexism, no matter how loud or the angle it is coming from, can diminish your power and worth. Break free of the quotation marks they try to impose and write your own narrative of resilience and empowerment.
Let this be an emotional message of solidarity to break free of the chains that they try to impose on you.
Say no to bullying!
Say no to sexism!!
Say no to emotional torture!!!
Chikaima Zita Unachukwu
