Sticks and stones: Only skin deep after all!

A personal account of being bullied as an immigrant offers insights on systemic racial discrimination within educational institutions and the wider Australian society. The personal experiences reveal that emotional and psychological abuse can transcend childhood and plague an individual in adult life. Discrimination regrettably will never be eradicated, and so resolution requires effort at the level of the individual who is the victim. The story demonstrates that racial jibes and taunts-even little ones-can be very painful, very harmful and even life-changing. The consequences may be enduring. Scars can remain and hurts may resurface, prompted, for instance, by innocuous and jocular remarks. The passage from victim to victor is a process, one that can be very long. Reflection, acceptance, humor, stoicism and resilience help, but the victim's pain, suffering and sense of aloneness may continue to derail the process. The path to peace of mind, growth and maturity requires ongoing efforts to nurture resilience. When self-esteem is strong, the author acknowledges she has learned much, especially to appreciate the finer points of the phrase of her native tongue: "Vive la différence".