Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

PRESS RELEASE ~ 22nd November 2006

Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

Majority of school bullies still at odds with their victims according to website poll

A staggering 80% of victims of school bullying are still at odds with their bullies, according to a recent poll from reunion website, Friends Reunited New Zealand.

Asked if they had been bullied at school, of the 3000 respondents, it was revealed that just 20% of victims had reconciled with their bullies and accepted apologies for making their lives a misery.

But one former school bully and member of Friends Reunited who caused heartache and misery to fellow pupils has bravely owned up to her actions and apologised to one of her victims.

Terry Woolley, a 29 year old mother of four, used reunion website, Friends Reunited, to get in touch with a girl she bullied whilst at High School and face the daunting task of apologising to her face to face.

Terry said, "I was always picking on people and beating them up because I thought it was cool and it got lots of attention. Now I'm grown up and a mum, it started to eat away at me as I realised how miserable I made these girls' lives."

Terry met with one of her victims, talked through everything that had happened and laid to rest some of her demons.

She added, "I was lucky that she was understanding, but as much as I say I'm sorry and she accepts, it will never be enough. I would never want my children to go through that and I'm thankful I've had the opportunity to sort out my past as it's the mistakes I have to live with."

Vicki Dawson, head of Friends Reunited New Zealand, said, "It's encouraging to hear how members are using the site in such a positive way. Of course, no one can condone what Terry did, but it's wonderful that she's finally faced up to what she did and tried to put things right. I hope that we continue to hear more stories like Terry's."

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