Name / Twitter:

Sarah Wellock / @SarahWellock84

What do you do now?

Community Management in Video Game Development

Where were you born?

Warrington

Where do you live nowadays?

London

What’s your favourite video game of all time?

Silent Hill 2

What was the last game you enjoyed and why?

Ni No Kuni. It’s the perfect combination of  one of the greatest animation studios and top game developers. The result is a beautiful world that is rich in imagination and top notch design.

Describe any of the bullying you experienced.

From a very young age (primary school) I received increasingly cruel and violent verbal bullying due to my ‘unusual appearance’ – being tall, skinny and later in my teens a ‘goth’. This carried on until I left college to go to university as unfortunately I went to the same high school and college as a lot of my bullies. No matter how good my grades or how much I tried to fit in more I would never belong which sadly let to me getting an eating disorder for some time. The point I remember most included me refusing to leave my home to go to school forcing my father to drive to one of the bullies houses and confront their parents.

When did you finally learn how to manage the bullying? How?

When I started college I managed to find a likeminded group of friends who helped me realise that I wasn’t alone and what they were doing WASN’T normal, by that point I had convinced myself I deserved the abuse. The biggest step for me in managing the bullying was to become comfortable with who I was, and friends/music was  huge help with that.

What effect do you think bullying had on you?

It has taken many years to rebuild my self-confidence and the saddest part is when I look back on a good 10 years of my life I have only very unhappy memories. The positive side is that I am very comfortable and confident in who I am and am much more determined to make my life the best it can be – the best revenge is to live your life well.

How is your life better now?

I’m not the same person I was back then which make me incredibly proud, I feel like myself, my true self. I am blessed to have a really fantastic circle of a friends, a job with a top gaming studio, chances to travel and to have new adventures. In a nutshell I am living the life I always wanted to but was too afraid to dream possible.

Did you think your life was ever going to be this good?

Absolutely not, there were certainly dark days when I thought I was doomed to constant abuse and that no one would ever welcome me into their social groups/ careers. In my darkest hours I remember not even imagining still being here.

What would you like to say to a youngster thinking about getting into video games who is experiencing bullying right now?

People bully because they don’t understand and will always be afraid of what they don’t understand but know that there are hundreds and thousands more people out there who will understand you and embrace you. I have found a second family in my industry friends and community, I had to work hard to get here but it is worth it trust me. Never let ANYONE tell you that your dream is wrong, keep chasing it.