2025 Abigail Peay Maple Mountain HS

Beyond The Screen: Finding My Voice

In junior high, I became the target of years of cyberbullying from people who at one point were my closest friends. This experience that left me feeling incredibly isolated. For almost three years, I struggled with the emotional toll of being attacked online, and at almost all times, I felt completely alone. Despite the pain, now that I can look back at this experience I can see how this period of hardship ultimately became a turning point in my personal growth.

The bullying started when I left my friend group after I realized how awful they treated others and how when I would leave hang outs I would feel bad about myself. I thought that leaving the group wouldn’t matter to them but I was wrong. I slowly started to get phone calls from blocked number and when I would answer I would be ridiculed by voices I recognize. The people I had at one point considered to be my friends started going after all of my insecurities that I had confided in them. When quarantine started I assumed that the bullying would end but I was wrong. Lots of the kids parents still allowed them to hang out with their friends despite the lockdown so the phone calls were still happening. On top of that, anonymous accounts began commenting on my posts and sending me DMs about my looks, my personality, and sometimes even suggested I ended my life. At the start of all of this I wasn’t allowed out of my house due to the pandemic.

At my lowest, I realized that I couldn’t navigate this alone. As soon as quarantine was over I started talking to my parents about going to therapy, which became a crucial part of my healing. It took a lot for me to actually open up about what had been happening but talking to a professional helped me process my emotions in ways I hadn’t been able to before. I learned to challenge the negative thoughts that had taken root in my mind and replace them with self-compassion. Therapy also gave me coping strategies—ways to manage my anxiety, build confidence, and reclaim my sense of self. It was a slow process, especially because the bullying was still taking place, but over time, I began to heal.

High school was another turning point. By this point the bullying had eased off for the most part. As I started to distance myself from the bullying I also started making friends who truly saw and accepted me. For the first time in a long while, I had people I could confide in—friends who listened without judgment and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Their kindness and support reinforced what I had started to learn in therapy: that my worth wasn’t defined by the cruelty of others. These friendships became a foundation for my resilience, teaching me the power of genuine human connection.

Being cyberbullied taught me the importance of empathy and the power of support. The isolation I experienced helped me realize just how important it is to reach out to others, even when they might not ask for help. This experience helped me see how people can be hurting in silence and it’s important to make sure people know that I am a person who they can reach out to. Over time, I began to reclaim my self-worth through the support of my family and friends, and by focusing on personal growth. I found solace in hobbies like writing, which allowed me to express my emotions, and volunteering, which gave me the chance to help others.

Writing has been a very important thing to me these last few years. It has been a source for me to really get all my thoughts out no matter how ugly they might be. I have been using writing as a source of therapy for years and I journal almost every night to make sure I’m not bottling things up. Volunteering is another thing that I’ve been really passionate about the last few years. Being able to help others and see the impact that I can have on others is a powerful thing and it helps me see that the things people used to say about me were never true. I’ve volunteered at food banks, traveled to build schools, babysat for kids in my area, and helped organize food and clothing drives. The work is extremely rewarding and it is something I will continue to do my whole life.

Being bullied shaped me into a person who is not only compassionate but also deeply attuned to the struggles of others. It taught me to listen, to recognize when someone might need support, and to be the kind of friend I desperately needed. When I get to college, I am going to work my hardest to foster a sense of community where people feel valued and supported. Whether it’s by initiating conversations about mental health or simply being there for someone who is struggling, I want to make sure no one feels as isolated as I once did. Having goals like this is a big way that I cope with what happened to me. Helping inspire change and being there for others is how I stay strong.

The challenges I faced during that time have given me strength, resilience, and an intense drive to create areas where others feel seen, heard, and cared for. I believe these qualities will allow me to contribute meaningfully to the inclusive and compassionate environment I hope to find in college. This scholarship would help me pay for university which will help me to reach my goals. I am eager to help build a community that uplifts and supports everyone, regardless of their struggles.