Community members in Philadelphia have rallied around a 13-year-old who was attacked by a bully. The violent attack left eighth-grader Nevaeh Robinson with first-degree burns. While she was waiting for the bus, a boy from her class approached her and used a lighter to set her hair on fire.
To everyone’s shock, Nevaeh’s classmates stood by without helping.
Nevaeh says she was terrified and thought she might be about to die. Meanwhile, her classmates watched and laughed. None of them reached out to help.
“It started burning really fast,” Nevaeh said. “Only three people helped me: my brother, my sister, and my friend.”
They managed to put the fire out before she was seriously injured. Nevaeh sustained first-degree burns on her scalp.
Meanwhile, some of her hair was burned away. She now wears a scarf to cover the missing patches. Her doctors said that she was lucky to escape without more severe injuries. They also said that her hairstyle may have been part of what saved her.
Nevaeh’s mother is now taking a stand for her daughter.
Tanya Robinson, Nevaeh’s mother, was horrified to learn what happened. She was also disturbed to learn that so few of her classmates made an effort to help her.
“Had three people not hurried up and patted her down … who knows?” Robinson said.
Robinson says this is not the first time that Nevaeh has been on the receiving end of bullying in her class. She is calling for the expulsion of the student who attacked her. Whether that will happen has not been reported. However, the attacker does face charges of simple assault and arson.
Philadelphia police call Nevaeh brave for returning to school.
Now, Nevaeh says she is grateful for the show of community support. On her first day back at school, she received an escort from a division of the Philadelphia police. They greeted her with flowers, balloons, and gifts. Then they brought her into the school to tell her they supported her bravery in returning to classes.
“It’s nice to know that everybody has my back,” Nevaeh said. The 13-year-old says she is interested in becoming a police officer one day or even joining the FBI.
Bullying is a common occurrence for many teenagers.
Unfortunately, Nevaeh’s experience isn’t unique, as some might hope. In fact, a 2015 study showed that 21 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 reported being bullied.
Bullying can mean several different things. Some cases, like Nevaeh’s, fall under the category of physical bullying. Bullies might push or hit their victims, damage their possessions, or do other things to hurt them.
However, bullying can be more than physical. Verbal bullying involves making fun of victims or calling them names. It can also involve making inappropriate comments or threatening to hurt them. Verbal bullying is designed to distress or embarrass victims in a systematic way.
Social bullying is when bullies try to ostracize victims or hurt their reputation. This can damage friendships and make the victim feel like an outsider. Bullies do this by excluding victims, spreading false gossip about them, or embarrassing them in front of peers.
Bullying involves power plays and repetition.
Every form of bullying is harmful, and adults should treat it seriously. For behavior to fall under the technical term of bullying, it must involve a contrast of power. This means that the bully has more power than the victim because they are physically stronger or more popular. They may also know private or embarrassing information about the victim. Bullying also involves repeated patterns of aggressive behavior.
For bullies and victims alike, the effects are long-term.
Bullying can lead to long-term mental health issues and other problems. Teenagers who are bullied are more likely to develop depression or anxiety or have chronic health issues. They are also more likely to suffer academically.
Meanwhile, teens who engage in bullying have an increased risk of dangerous behaviors. These include substance abuse, academic problems, criminal activity, and abusive relationships.
Nevaeh’s story is a prime example of why it is important for bystanders to intervene when they see bullying. Students and teachers who step in to stop bullying not only help someone who is feeling defenseless. They may even save a life.
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