How I bullied a girl in elementary school (Blog post #2)

Here is the plot point outline for my story!

Exposition:

• Main character: Laura, a young girl raised in China, recently visiting Canada for a short stay.
• Setting: Vancouver, Canada, specifically Chaffey Burke Elementary School.
• Laura’s background: Identifies with Chinese culture, unfamiliar with Canadian culture, struggles with adapting but fits into a small group of friends despite limited English skills.
• Initial personality traits: Competitive, confident, and quick to judge.

Point of Attack:

• Problem: A new student, Sandy, joins Laura’s class and unintentionally disrupts her comfort zone.
• Laura’s goal: Maintain her social status and sense of control while navigating her feelings of jealousy and frustration toward Sandy.

Rising Action:

Rising Action One:

• Sandy is seated in front of Laura, blocking her view of the board, which becomes a source of irritation.
• Laura vents to classmates, beginning to gossip about Sandy and criticize her.
• Sandy overhears but does not respond, intensifying Laura’s resentment.

Rising Action Two:

• During a recess activity, Laura covets a blue finger light but finds Sandy has taken it.
• Laura confronts Sandy, using subtle manipulation and escalating to cruel insults with support from classmates like Jennie.
• Sandy is visibly hurt, and Laura feels a sense of triumph as her social circle grows, fueling her bullying.

Climax:

• Laura overhears Sandy sobbing to her mother, expressing her misery at being bullied and longing to leave the school.
• Laura is struck with guilt and realizes she has been a bully, causing Sandy’s suffering.
• This moment forces Laura to question her actions and the social dynamics she created.

Falling Action:

• Laura resolves to stop bullying Sandy and even tries to shift the class dynamics by refusing to join in the teasing.
• Her classmates begin to turn on her, labeling her a hypocrite and isolating her.
• Laura tries to apologize to Sandy, but Sandy refuses to accept it, leaving Laura feeling both rejected and introspective.

Resolution:

• Laura leaves Canada and returns to China without a resolution with Sandy.
• Reflecting on the experience, Laura acknowledges the power of peer pressure and her role as a bully.
• She learns that some actions have lasting consequences, and not every wrong can be righted with a simple apology.

Themes and Takeaways:

• The impact of peer pressure and the social hierarchy in childhood.
• The consequences of bullying and the difficulty of seeking redemption.
• A realistic, nuanced look at personal growth and accountability.

Let me know if this is alright! Thank you!