Petition Letter
During my middle school holidays, I participated in an intensive painting course. The teacher at that time, who should have been our guide and protector, abused his position and power to sexually assault me. He even recorded a video and threatened to release it online if I ever told anyone about the incident. These deep psychological traumas and shadows have long haunted me, causing me constant fear and unease.
On December 10, 2024, when the police informed me that the teacher who had threatened me was under investigation and needed my cooperation for an inquiry, I felt a wave of intense panic. That teacher had explicitly told me that if I dared to reveal his actions to anyone, he would release my private video online. I realized that this inquiry meant I had to confront that dark past, but I refused the request to participate in the investigation. Although I knew it might be an opportunity to speak up for other victims and even help the police catch him, the deep-seated fear within me was too much to bear.
However, despite my efforts to suppress those memories, they inevitably resurfaced and profoundly impacted my mental state. My sleep quality deteriorated drastically, I found it difficult to concentrate during the day, and my anxiety continued to escalate. This overwhelming psychological pressure directly affected my ability to prepare for and complete the final exam for STAT268, leading to significant negative consequences. I felt both ashamed of my helplessness and angry at myself for being unable to break free from the past.
In early January 2025, the police approached me again, hoping I could assist them. After much thought, I realized I couldn't let fear conquer me, and I didn't want others to suffer the same fear and pain. So, I decided to push myself and muster the courage to cooperate with the police in their investigation. However, the process of assisting in the investigation consumed a great deal of my time and energy. As I was not in China, I could only participate in the inquiry online. Answering the police's investigative questions took much longer than I had anticipated. In this process, I had to relive that experience repeatedly, and my psychological state became extremely poor. This also severely affected my originally planned exam preparation schedule, causing me to miss many key points that I should have mastered.
During the deferred exams for MATH225 and MATH280 that followed, the terrifying images from that time continued to echo in my mind. In those moments when I was supposed to focus on completing the test, I experienced waves of dizziness and heart palpitations. My breathing became rapid, as if the air was filled with an invisible sense of oppression. I tried hard to understand the words on the exam paper, but my attention kept getting pulled away by the disturbing memories. I attempted to stay calm, but every effort was crushed by the unease that came from deep within. My hand trembled as I picked up the pen, and I felt as though I had fallen into an inescapable state. The answers on the paper became blurry, and my thoughts grew increasingly disorganized. Every second felt like an interrogation, and I desperately longed for the ordeal to end.
Since the investigation required confidentiality, I was unable to disclose my situation to the school or anyone else, as explicitly stated in my notice of cooperation in the investigation. During my communication with the police, I asked if I could tell the school about the incident and its impact on me. The police informed me that the case was still ongoing and confidential, and that I would need to cooperate further in the investigation and provide some information in a few days.
On the other hand, the perpetrator had not yet been formally convicted at that time. I was afraid that if I revealed the incident, he would retaliate by releasing my information online, just as he had threatened before.
On May 30, 2025, when the police informed me that the investigation had concluded and the teacher who had threatened me had been formally arrested and convicted, I felt an indescribable sense of relief. It was as if the ropes that had bound me for so long had suddenly snapped, and the heavy feelings of fear, pain, and guilt seemed to be blown away in an instant.
At that moment, I felt a sense of freedom and security. The terrible experience seemed to slowly fade away from me, just like fog dissipating in the sunlight. I knew I no longer had to fear threats or worry about the release of that video. I realized how brave and strong I had been. To reveal the truth, I had faced the deep-seated fears within myself. I felt proud and confident, all of which had been forged by my identity as a victim.
The arrest of that teacher was a symbol of an end and a rebirth. I knew my life would have a fresh start from then on. I was no longer the child who was threatened, but a fortunate survivor who could face the past and bravely seek the truth.
On December 10, 2024, when the police informed me that the teacher who had threatened me was under investigation and needed my cooperation for an inquiry, I felt a wave of intense panic. That teacher had explicitly told me that if I dared to reveal his actions to anyone, he would release my private video online. I realized that this inquiry meant I had to confront that dark past, but I refused the request to participate in the investigation. Although I knew it might be an opportunity to speak up for other victims and even help the police catch him, the deep-seated fear within me was too much to bear.
However, despite my efforts to suppress those memories, they inevitably resurfaced and profoundly impacted my mental state. My sleep quality deteriorated drastically, I found it difficult to concentrate during the day, and my anxiety continued to escalate. This overwhelming psychological pressure directly affected my ability to prepare for and complete the final exam for STAT268, leading to significant negative consequences. I felt both ashamed of my helplessness and angry at myself for being unable to break free from the past.
In early January 2025, the police approached me again, hoping I could assist them. After much thought, I realized I couldn't let fear conquer me, and I didn't want others to suffer the same fear and pain. So, I decided to push myself and muster the courage to cooperate with the police in their investigation. However, the process of assisting in the investigation consumed a great deal of my time and energy. As I was not in China, I could only participate in the inquiry online. Answering the police's investigative questions took much longer than I had anticipated. In this process, I had to relive that experience repeatedly, and my psychological state became extremely poor. This also severely affected my originally planned exam preparation schedule, causing me to miss many key points that I should have mastered.
During the deferred exams for MATH225 and MATH280 that followed, the terrifying images from that time continued to echo in my mind. In those moments when I was supposed to focus on completing the test, I experienced waves of dizziness and heart palpitations. My breathing became rapid, as if the air was filled with an invisible sense of oppression. I tried hard to understand the words on the exam paper, but my attention kept getting pulled away by the disturbing memories. I attempted to stay calm, but every effort was crushed by the unease that came from deep within. My hand trembled as I picked up the pen, and I felt as though I had fallen into an inescapable state. The answers on the paper became blurry, and my thoughts grew increasingly disorganized. Every second felt like an interrogation, and I desperately longed for the ordeal to end.
Since the investigation required confidentiality, I was unable to disclose my situation to the school or anyone else, as explicitly stated in my notice of cooperation in the investigation. During my communication with the police, I asked if I could tell the school about the incident and its impact on me. The police informed me that the case was still ongoing and confidential, and that I would need to cooperate further in the investigation and provide some information in a few days.
On the other hand, the perpetrator had not yet been formally convicted at that time. I was afraid that if I revealed the incident, he would retaliate by releasing my information online, just as he had threatened before.
On May 30, 2025, when the police informed me that the investigation had concluded and the teacher who had threatened me had been formally arrested and convicted, I felt an indescribable sense of relief. It was as if the ropes that had bound me for so long had suddenly snapped, and the heavy feelings of fear, pain, and guilt seemed to be blown away in an instant.
At that moment, I felt a sense of freedom and security. The terrible experience seemed to slowly fade away from me, just like fog dissipating in the sunlight. I knew I no longer had to fear threats or worry about the release of that video. I realized how brave and strong I had been. To reveal the truth, I had faced the deep-seated fears within myself. I felt proud and confident, all of which had been forged by my identity as a victim.
The arrest of that teacher was a symbol of an end and a rebirth. I knew my life would have a fresh start from then on. I was no longer the child who was threatened, but a fortunate survivor who could face the past and bravely seek the truth.