Rector: – I am glad that she dares to speak out – Aftenposten

Iqra Mahboob (17) have been sitting alone at the school for over a year. Before summer she tried to talk to others in the class, but without success.

Recently she wrote a letter to the principal for the acts of their own and other’s life at school. A life marked by loneliness.

Read Iqras debates: “Dear Principal: Why do not you care?”

– I wrote the letter to the principal because I’m not the only one who is alone at school. I wanted the rector should open their eyes and see what is actually happening. He has a certain responsibility that I mean not being taken seriously, said Mahboob.

Si; D met her at the Doylestown High School in Akershus with principal Per Bjarne Elle and worker Morten Grønvold.

Tok contact anonymous

Although the school does well on satisfaction surveys, does not mean that individuals are not doing well at school, tells Elle.

– It is nice that Iqra ( Mahboob journ.anm.) dare to speak out. It is not always easy to see if someone is alone or lonely. Therefore I am glad that she anonymously contacted me and informed about how she had it. It is only then I could take action, says the headmaster.

“We have a Uno-date!”

When the principal received the letter, he invited Mahboob to call to discuss how they would solve the problem.

A short time later, it created a separate room in the school, and students now have at all times an adult to talk to.

– It turns out that students who initially did not really need this offer, spend lots of time there. It has a positive impact on those who need someone to be with, says social worker Grønvold.

Much of Greenland Volds working is to go around the school.

He knows that students may experience it as violent and scary to be outside hours with large crowds.

Grønvold see no clear negative trend, but know that there are students that are instrumental and not conducive to a good student environment. “We have a Uno-date, have not we?” Cried Grønvold to a student, citing that it happens at the newly opened room at school.

– It is important to have a venue for students where it is natural to get into. There should be an “I have no one to be with” -Room.

Researching young and exclusion

Cecilie Høj Anvik at the University of Nordland researching living in a vulnerable circumstances, and is particularly concerned with children and young people in the field of tension between participating and remain outside the community.

Read also: “How we choose to meet those who are away from home in social situations?”

– The negative effects of being alone can cause one to become withdrawn and closes out others. It is a natural reaction, explains Anvik.

– Why do some sitting alone?

– It is a very complex problem. Some perceive the world as a scary place, while others take us right back to her childhood and adolescence. This is where it went wrong. They have been systematically bullied and ignored.

– Who sits alone?

– There is everything from “good girls” to “game boys” . So different, yet so similar.

– What is it that triggers exclusion?

– This is about mechanisms among young people. There are few things that needed everything to fall into place and you feel good, but it is no more than a small blip it takes and you will be excluded. When you do not have the peers around you as a reference point, one can experience being socially dead.

– We have no time for each other

On Friday, Mahboob a lecture for his class, which one of several measures to put lights on loneliness in school.

– I hope my fellow students understand that it is devastating to sit alone in the school day in and day out. I do not expect to be best friends with everyone after this, it holds that see each other and take the initiative to talk to each other at school, said Mahboob.

Loneliness is unfortunately present in our society, recognizing the principal Elle and it should, according to him be thought provoking.

– It is critical in society that we do not have time to listen to people, and especially young people. We must remember that students come to school with a lot in your backpack. It is good to have someone to talk to.

Andrea Michelle Falch Andersen (17)

I am sitting alone though and know how it feels. It makes an impression on me, especially when I see other sit together. But I will just concentrate on getting ready for school. Had I seen someone who was always alone, I would go and talk with them. We must try to include people sitting alone. It is my duty as a student.

Thea Cha Green Stone (17), student council

I would go and talk with them. Struggling to find common ground to talk about. I think the school should address this and get students to engage in community. Teachers should provide a good learning environment, but we must take a share of responsibility. I know of many who are alone and everyone has been in that stage once in a lifetime.

Håkon Markovic (17)

It may be hard to see them, but if I had discovered that I’d talked to them. It is not easy for schools to do something because it is the students’ responsibility. It is the question. I’ve seen some sit alone and I think we have to realize that this is a problem in society, even if it does not apply to all schools.

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