My personal journey through bullying
Growing up, school was one of the hardest places for me. I experienced severe bullying and often lacked the protection and understanding I truly needed. By sharing my authentic story, I hope to remind every person who feels unseen that they are never truly alone.
Growing up without the support I needed
In 3rd grade during a field day kickball game, I was deeply overwhelmed. Instead of helping me calm down, my teacher threatened to take away my Self-Manager badge. By 4th grade, I was struggling with schoolwork and received no guidance. In 5th grade, after endless provocation from peers, I reached my breaking point and threw a chair—a moment I regret, but instead of receiving care, I was merely sent out of the classroom.
The breaking point and finding my voice
In 7th grade, the mistreatment escalated. A male student called me names and pushed me directly onto the ground inside the school building. Rather than receiving help from onlookers, other students pointed, laughed, and ridiculed me. What pulled me through those dark times was finding the inner strength to speak up and recognize my inherent worth as a young person on the autism spectrum.
Reclaiming strength and moving forward
The pain of the past taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and self-worth. You are stronger than you think, and you have the power to reclaim your voice. Today, through chloessafespace, I channel these experiences into advocacy, providing open conversations, videos, and practical guidance so no one has to endure this journey alone. I am also writing a book, called It Takes a Village: My Path to Healing from Childhood Bullying. I am writing this book about my personal experience with the help of my phenomenal and amazing teacher back in high school and now turned mentor and colleague, Dr. S. Renee Mitchell.
"My number one message to anyone going through this is: you are not alone. You are stronger than you think, and you can take your power back."
Chloe, founder of Chloe's Safe Space