POSITIVE: A MEMOIR Haroon Bodhania WOBURN COLLEGIATE Miss Hassan Amongst the various compelling and significant episodes, the one that stands out within the first quarter of the memoir is when Rawl is rushed to the hospital to overcome her symptoms of her life-long battle with HIV. Rawl further elaborates the only way that she feels wholesome is when she’s in the hospital receiving treatment for her condition. Self-esteem & complex issues arise when members of a working society are intentionally excluded from participating in key activities. Rawl felt as if she was unable to connect with anyone due to the hindrances stemming from her preconceived notions of her condition causing her social isolation. After much deliberation, she finally developed the courage to confide in whom she assumed to be her best friend as a means to form a connection with someone. Rawl, however was double-crossed by her close friend & ally who proceeded without thought or remorse to disclose her secret in front of the entirety of the school. This prompted her fellow students at the school to judge her indiscriminately which resulted in constant bullying from her peers. The condemnation and belittling of her comrades made matters worse by mortifying her entire being; further creating a sense of humiliation followed by severe depression and anxiety. The impact of this isolated & grave incident triggered a ripple effect throughout middle and high-school for Rawl. These events are of importance because this sheds light on her suffering in relation to the consequences of her being on the receiving end of bullying - in addition to what she already had to endure over something where she had no control over. Critical remarks over one’s shortcomings, whether that be physical and mental disabilities, appearance, race and/or religion related and etcetera are considered inconsiderate which brings upon a negative onset of emotional turbulence often leading to despair, humiliation and in certain cases susceptibility of suicidal tendencies. After her arrival back at the school, she was appointed with the nickname of ‘paid’ and as she would walk past her peers at school, they would subtly whisper it to her thereby causing her confidence to plummet and evoke Rawl with dismaying thoughts & low self-esteem. The long-term implications of such situations are downright disturbing and dreadful. Rawl and/or anyone in her position would feel despondent, melancholy and depressed. It’s already arduous for her to attend treatment sessions at the hospital but now people at school are poking fun at her for her condition which inevitably causes ripple effects on her emotional well-being - all of which could easily have been avoided with simple awareness campaigns and discussions on the lasting implications of bullying.
