Where It All Began

Hey there guys! My name is Luke Thomas, I'm a 27 year old from a town in rural Victoria, Australia called Ballarat. I'm currently finishing my diploma in Sports Coaching and Development through the Carlton College of Sport (in alliance with LaTrobe University). 

So enough about me now, lets get to why I am here! About halfway through primary school I stared to get bullied, at the time clearly not thinking much of it and just brushing it aside thinking it would all pass, boy how wrong I really was. It progressively got worse till the end of primary school, but once I arrived at high school things didn't get any better, it changed from not only verbal but into physical abuse. Days where I was scared to attend to days I just didn't want to leave my room, my sanctuary, my safe place. I felt as though I couldn't speak to my parents because I didn't want them to worry about me because on the outside, this kid was bubbly, energetic, always laughing and happy but underneath, I was ashamed, scared, vulnerable and destroyed.

On April 10, 2005, was a very dark day for myself, the passing of my Grandfather, which really shook me from seeing him in the hospital, speaking to him like I was going to see him the next day but that would never be the case. I was absolutely broken, my life had begun that downhill spiral yet again, trying to find any positive in the situations, all happening at once was impossible. Once I went back to school I avoided everyone, sat by myself all the time, didn't want anyone knowing I was in pain, because going to an all boys school, emotion wasn't something that was seen as "manly", the bullying became worse.

All that I could do for the years through high school, was tough it out even though, inevitably, that would be a catalyst for my mental health further down the track and a factor in my trust issues and being able to socialise properly, by not being able to open up about what I was going through.