Writing can bring into the light what might otherwise remain unseen
“We cannot change the past, but we can choose what kind of future we build for one another.” -Tuija Väyrynen
In 2025, I took part in the Art Breaks Walls writing competition, which invited stories about school and the experiences that shape us there. I chose to write about bullying and the lasting impact it can have on a person’s life.
More than 320 texts were submitted from across Finland. Sixteen were selected for publication in the anthology Muistelmia ja mustelmia – Tarinoita koulusta (Memories and Bruises – Stories from School), and my short story was among them. The book was launched at Aviador Publishing’s bookstore Kirjakulma in Helsinki in October 2025.
I was delighted by the selection, but even more grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an important conversation. Bullying is not merely a difficult phase left behind at school. Its effects can remain present for years, sometimes for decades.
Writing offers a way to give voice to experiences that are often difficult to speak about. Stories can help us understand what exclusion, shame, fear, and loneliness feel like. They can also remind us that every human being deserves to be seen, heard, and accepted as they are.
Bullying never affects only one person. Its consequences reach families, communities, and, ultimately, society as a whole.
A Statement Against Bullying
No one should have to grow up in the shadow of fear.
Bullying leaves marks that are not always visible. Sometimes bruises heal quickly. Sometimes the wounds we cannot see stay with us for a very long time.
Every child and young person deserves a safe environment in which to learn, grow, and develop a sense of self without fear of humiliation, discrimination, racism, exclusion, or violence.
Preventing bullying is not solely the responsibility of schools. It belongs to all of us: parents, teachers, community leaders, policymakers, and every adult who has the opportunity to make a difference.
Silence rarely protects the person who is suffering. Listening, caring, and acting can change the course of a life.
The anthology Muistelmia ja mustelmia is available through Aviador’s bookstore. You can order a copy using the link below.