For some children, school is a place of friendships, laughter, and discovery. For others, simply making it through the day becomes an exhausting struggle.

Dr. Cynthia McQueen remembers what that struggle felt like.

During her school years, she became a target of relentless bullying. Other girls mocked her appearance, dark complexion, short hair, and clothing. Lunchtime, which should have offered a break from lessons, became something she dreaded.

On one occasion, a girl knocked her lunch tray from the table, leaving Cynthia humiliated in front of her classmates. At times, she hid in the school bathroom to escape the cruelty.

What her classmates could not see was the suffering she was already experiencing at home. Their treatment added another burden to a childhood shaped by fear.

In Victim to Victorious: The Purpose of Pain, Dr. McQueen recounts these experiences to show how deeply bullying can affect a young person’s emotional well-being.

Her message also reaches parents, teachers, and school counselors. A struggling student may be carrying pain that nobody recognizes.

Taking bullying seriously, listening without judgment, and offering meaningful support can make a tremendous difference in a child’s life.