Scottish Traveller, Rochelle is an independent young women smashing stereotypes. At just 20 she runs her own painting and decorating business, is a member of the Gypsy Traveller Youth Assembly of Scotland and volunteers within the army cadet force.

I’m 20 years old from Alexandria, Glasgow, and I’m a Scottish Traveller from the McPhee family..........writes Rochelle Helen McPhee McGavin.

From the time I started high school I got bullied and picked on for the smallest of things. I was bullied for being a Traveller, for the way I spoke, the way I dressed and even for having long hair. The other students didn’t like me, they called me names like ‘gypo’ and ‘gypsy mink’. I always felt like there was something wrong with me being a Traveller. I used to hate myself and hate going to school. There were days that I begged the teachers and used to cry to not go to class, because I didn’t want to face another day of teasing or mean comments.

When I was 15 I joined the army cadet force, I had begged my daddy to let me join but to start with he wasn’t keen on me working with countrypeople (non-Travellers). He knew about the bullying I had suffered from countrypeople at school, but it was different at the cadets - I felt so secure and happy when I was there. The people made me feel so welcome from the day I arrived at the centre, they never had a bad word to say against me.