50,000 Heroes Turned Up To Support Bullied Queensland Schoolgirl Whose Life Is A “Living Hell”

A bullied 12-year-old student of Queensland’s Dysart State High School has taken to change.org seeking support.

Tayla Sekhmet, with the help of her mum Kali, posted a petition with the title “School bullying is killing me, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP”, which, it said, would be delivered to both her school and the Queensland Minister for Education, Kate Jones, once it reached 30,000 signatures.

Here's the good news: as of this writing, more than 50,000 well-wishers have added their name to the petition.

“I'm the most unpopular kid at school and people make my life a living hell,” Tayla writes.

“Every day people call me fatso, weirdo, ugly, freak, and tell me I should kill myself. I've been pushed to the ground, had people go through my bag, or break my scooter when I rode it to school. Even people in other grades who I don't know do these things to me too.

“Other people in my class throw things at me and film it on their phones. They tell me they're going to upload it to the net.”

In the petition, Tayla also describes continued sexual harassment by one male student.

“I have told teachers many times, my mum has called the school, and I have had school meetings,” she notes.

“None of this is helping. I've been told to just ignore these people, but I can't take it anymore. I don't know what else to do or where else to go for help.

“My life is hell. I only beg for you to please sign my petition to ask Dysart State High School to take a stronger stance against bullying and for the Government to stop the school getting away with this.”

The Courier Mail reached out to the state’s education department, who said bullying was “not tolerated in state schools” and that the school “has been working closely with the family for some time to resolve their concerns.”

Though the actions taken by the school have apparently made little difference, an update to the petition by Kali suggests the outpouring of support has “changed Tayla’s life forever”.

“Yesterday, when Tayla was reading through all the comments you all have written, she cried. She couldn't believe that so many people could care about -in her words- ‘a[n] insignificant freak like me’.

“Tayla says she is going to print out every comment made on her petition and fill her entire wall with them. She reads every one. And she is especially sad to see that so many others are experiencing the same bullying.

“I know that you are all random strangers on the internet and we will never meet, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for signing this petition, because you have changed my daughter's life forever.”

To those who say a digital signature means nothing, think again.

Remember, you can still sign here. Tayla may have already reached her goal, but your support is still meaningful.

If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available right now. Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

For more information on counselling and treatment plans you can contact your school’s health services as well as Reach Out.

Photo: iStock.