Dionne the doyen
Teenager reduced to tears by bully now helps victims cope
Inspirational teenager Dionne Hossack doesn’t subscribe to the‘eye for an eye’ code of justice for the cruel bullies who taunted her as a schoolgirl.
R a t h e r, t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d is channelling her energies into making a difference to people’s lives through a series of unparalleled experiences that prove she’s one to watch.
When Dionne, at the age of 13, developed a keen interest in politics, human rights and equality, that made her different in the eyes of her peers.
They poked fun of her, and called her ‘ f a t .’ W h i l e s h e admits that hurt, it was nothing compared to the humiliation she felt four years ago when a holiday snap of her and a friend was doctored and posted on social media.
The picture was faked to seemingly associate her with a radical cause that couldn’t have been further removed from Dionne’s own ideology.
“Politics is a massive thing for me, and I worried about how this was going to affect me later on in life,” she explained.
“It was absolutely humiliating, and not who I am at all. I worried that people who didn’t know me would make a judgement, and that was a massive thing for me.
“I eventually broke down in my room, crying about it. My sister saw I was upset and she convinced me to tell my mum and dad. I knew my parents would be more outraged than upset.”
Through a combination of her own intervention, that of her parents and the person who posted the picture, the incident was dealt with overnight.
“I have learned to be good at putting things in the past and carr ying on,” said Dionne, a former pupil of St John Ogilvie High in Hamilton – a school whose progressive anti-bullying initiatives she holds in high regard.
“For a lot of people, they cannot do that. No way is right or wrong. Everyone has their own way of dealing with things.”
The experience taught Dionne enough about the lasting impact hurtful acts of bullying can have to compel her to volunteer for Lanarkshire charity, the Trust Jack Foundation, which was founded in 2015 by the mum of Jack Hastie, who struggled with adolescent depression and took his own life at the age of 18. There, in her home town of Stonehouse, young people can unburden and confide in counsellors and volunteers like Dionne, when they no longer feel able to cope.
Dionne also recently enlisted as a ‘wave-maker’ for Tiny Changes – a charity set up by the family and friends of Scott Hutchison, lead singer and songwriter with band, Frightened Rabbit.
Through his music and art, Scott made tiny changes that had a big impact. His honesty and openness about his own mental health inspired people from all walks of life. In May 2018, at the age of 36, Scott died by suicide.
Believing that early intervention is essential, Tiny Changes supports people and