Parents, we need your love and support

"What is wrong?" a friend asked me. He had noticed something was amiss as my class work and relationships were deteriorating.

The abrupt changes in my character were caused by a dispute I had with my parents. I made a mistake and apologised. But my pleas fell on deaf ears and my parents decided to punish me by confiscating my packed suitcase.

I resumed school this term with no personal belongings and no pocket money. I was embarrassed as students looked down on me. Did I really deserve this?

Had it not been for a friend’s help, I would have been a perpetual beggar at school.

Many students experience the same treatment.

Parents, we need your support and love. Don’t make us feel rejected and unaccepted. Some of your actions demean us in front of our classmates.

Fellow students who might be experiencing a similar episode should not live in the past lest they lose focus. Learn to overcome bitterness. Persevere and be committed to your goals. Share your problems with a friend and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope.

—Name withheld, Tanzania.