• Question: when children are growing up, being a scientist isnt really a typical job that they would like to do. when growing up did you get bullied because of this?

    Asked by peaceeeeee to Susan on 20 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Susan Skelton

      Susan Skelton answered on 20 Nov 2013:

      Hello peaceeeeeee!

      When I was young, I had no idea that I would be a scientist when I was older! I much preferred subjects like art and music to science!
      I only decided that I wanted to be a scientist when I was about 16, so I don’t think I was bullied about wanting to be a scientist. I was sometimes bullied about other things though!

      Bullying is very upsetting and if you are being bullied it’s important to tell someone you can trust, such as a friend, parent or teacher so that they can make it stop. There is some useful information about bullying at this website:
      http://www.bullying.co.uk/general-advice/what-is-bullying/

      Do you want to be a scientist when you grow up too?

Comments

  • Photo: Simon

    Simon commented on :

    When I was your age peaceee I really wanted to be a medical doctor, but didn’t apply to study medicine because the careers teachers at my school told me that I wouldn’t get the grades. I did get the grades (proved them wrong), but I am glad I took the route to science instead of medicine. Most doctors end up doing boring routine stuff, like talking to people with bad backs, or who have a nasty cold.

    I was lucky that I wasn’t bullied, even though I was a bit different to other kids. Susan has given some great advice if this is happening to you. I was afraid of other kids though and worried about what they might think of me, or say about me. Now that I am older I feel a lot more confident and I no longer care what they think. The experience I had with my careers teachers taught me an important lesson, which is to always stand up for what I believe in, and to do what I want, what I love, what I feel I am capable of and never be dissuaded by the doubters.

    Be strong.