The Lucky One

It’s quite late in hitting me really, but it’s only really occurring to me that I will never return to my school (as a student at least). It’s quite sad considering how much time you spend in your school, how much it is part of your life and your identity for your teen years.

When you really sit down and think about it, there are many memories of school that shape you as a person. Friendship circles, arguments and disappointments. Even more cosmetically (for me at least), I hate first wearing new clothes because they remind me September 1st and the brand new uniform.

Here is a storm of figures, in Northern Ireland, 86% of young gay people are aware of their sexual orientation while at school. Of the 63% of LGBT young people who faced negative attitudes around sexual orientation, only 13% of them sought support. 69% of the young people who left school earlier than that would have preferred were bullied.

Few would deny that the messages young people get in schools are crucial to their personal and social development and ability to manage the critical transition from youth to adult. Yet the “shout” research in 2003 found that schools are not providing the best environment for LGBT youth.

While I feel lucky to have so many positive memories of my time at school, I am aware that there should be no rose tint. I also have some more negative memories of school time, homophobia, silence and a general lack of support.

Yet - I’m lucky to have reached the end of my school years without significant abuse.