I've been bullied since the second grade. It started out small with small things like my hair or the clothes i would wear but as time progressed it got worse. I was never as smart as the other kids and I knew that I had a problem learning quickly like the others. So they would start calling me stupid and making fun of me if i didn't do as great as the others. I never had many friends in school, if i was lucky i had 2 or 3. I had problems trusting people because it got to the point that the people that said they were my friends really weren't and everything I told them they would tell everyone else. When word got out that my dad left when I was 2 was probably one of the worst times. Because people would tell me that I have issues because I never had a father figure but what they didn't know is that I still seen my father every weekend. Every year it gets worse. At the age of 12 I was sent to see a therapist and he diagnosed me with Sever Depression. They put me on medication that I feel I should have to take because there is no reason someone shouldn't have to be on meds to be happy. In the eighth grad i left public school and got cyber-schooled. I still remain cyber-schooled and I am 15 in tenth grade now and still get bullied whenever I leave my home. I now only have 1 friend and that's because she gets bullied just like me. She's the only one that will listen to me. I'm a great listener if anyone is having these problems I love to help people out so if you need me just let me know!

My life is stupid everybody thinks I have a big head. And even my family makes fun of me about it.at school kids always bully of how small i am and they bully me because they have a father and I don't. My dad makes me so mad,he left me and my mom when I was only 1. When it's my birthday he never call's me and tells me happy birthday. He never spends time with me.

I grew up different and I always knew it. I am hald white & native american so I didn't fit in either groups. I was bullied since the day I walked into a school for the first time. I went to a native school and I was the only "white" girl so bullying became my life. They said I was ugly for my freckles, my skin color, my pimples and for being too skinny. People who look at me today wouldn't think anything like this could happen to me but I dealt with alot of bullying. I was beat up by an old friend because she couldn't stand that I wasn't close to her. I've been in 5 fights my whole life and I'm only in grade 11. One girl I didn't even know her name and she told me I should go back to where I came from, I never understood her remark because I am and always have been from my reservation. two years ago everyone I knew called me down and made me feel worthless because I finally came out of the closet. I'm glad i did but their words put an emotional pain upon my shoulders. I'm a cutter and I can't quit no matter how hard I try.. people just stare at my scars with a disgusted look like I'm just a self-mutilated freak. I lost all my confidence in grade 1 and I still don't feel good enough.

Growing up in Reading, Massachusetts, my younger brother was bullied in high school by members of the football team.   The school was so football obsessed and prejudiced that when my brother would be beaten up they would persecute him as well.  He would be taken out of class just like the bullies.  The principal had suggested to my parents that my brother go to a technical school, despite his high IQ, saying that he should learn a trade.  My parents quickly recognized that if the school were not supportive of my brother against bullies and even academically then it would be better to send my brother to a private school instead.  My brother excelled at the new school and went on to university, but it took years for him to really get past the bullying.  Aside from my brother's experience, I knew of hazing within the football team that lead to the suicide of one young boy, and there was an incident where a student had brought a gun to school.  There was also a lot of racism and even sexual harassment of students by one math teacher.  An adult ex-student came forward nearly 20 years after having graduated to speak against the math teacher.  The principal also resigned.  I don't know if the high school has improved since then.  I am now living in Germany, and I don't know what the school system is like here.  I know that Germany does not have shootings like in the US, because there is gun control, but they probably have bullying like everywhere else.  I would like to first push Reading Memorial High School to adopt the Bully Project motto and then learn more about the schools in Leipzig.  

I have been a big boy ever since the day I was born.  10 lbs 2 oz and 24 inches long at birth, taller than all of my teachers since I was in 5th grade, and 6'10" by the time I was a Senior in High School.  You'd think I'd be the school's star basketball player, or at least a starting football player.  I wasn't.  Ever since I can remember I always loved music.  Anything music.  I gave soccer, swim team, baseball, even basketball a try, but the incessant bullying that I endured from other kids, and even worse, from the adults around me slowly made me detest the sight of a gym, weight room, field, or any sporting arena.  I was a husky kid growing into my body, and as I grew up, I suffered from a condition that left a little too much tissue on my chest than most boys are comfortable with.  My fellow classmates and teammates would draw attention to my chest.  They would squeeze me there and make fun of me.  The last time I darkened the basketball court was the day that the 7th grade basketball coach told us we would be playing "shirts and skins" and...yep you guessed it...I was on the "skins" side of the court.  That was it.  I refused to take my shirt off.  I knew what would happen if I did that.  Ridicule, embarrassment, I was mortified.  The coach told me to "stop being a sissy."  That was it.  I ran to the bathroom and cried.  Then I snuck out of the bathroom, and ran home.  I told my mom I never wanted to play again.  For once she let me quit, and that was it.  I never said why.  I put all of my efforts into what I loved...music.  This brought me more ridicule than before, but at least I had a place to be, with people who loved me for who I was.  Singing in the choir, playing my instrument, and being around accepting students and adults was what I craved.  It didn't stop the ridicule.  I was called "faggot" and "geek."  It hurt.  I was a big kid though, and it was great sport to come up to me and just pick a fight because people knew I wouldn't fight back.  One day on the way home from school during the 7th grade (remember, I was tall...by this time over 6' tall) a 6th grader followed me home calling me a "big fat faggot."   I kept walking, and he started to hit me from behind in the head.  I walked right up to the closest house on my walk home, knocked on the door as I was bawling my eyes out, and asked the stranger at the door to please let me in and let me call my parents.  That adult was a savior to me that day.  The woman behind the door let me in, called my parents, and let her big German Shepherd dog comfort me until my mom got there.  The kid was punished, but the problems didn't stop.  Things got worse in High School for a while.  My older brother, star of the basketball and football teams, was part of the problem.  He and his friends continued to ridicule me, calling me "faggot," "band geek," and "fairy."  I stuck with my true friends, but it always bothered me the way that I was treated.  The adult ridicule intensified during High School.  P.E. teachers made disapproving remarks, the basketball coach was less than kind, and students were worse than ever.  One student would squeeze my chest area and "feel me up" on a regular basis.  I retreated further into my group of friends.  Ironically enough, the only times I participated in sporting events were when I was marching on the football field with the marching band, or playing my trombone in the stands at the basketball games.  

Leaving High School was the best thing that ever happened to me.  Because of my musical abilities, I received a full ride scholarship, and paid nothing for tuition during the first 4 years of college.  The bullying had stopped, but to this day, almost 20 years later, the abuse is as fresh as the day that it happened.  I am now a principal at a comprehensive public high school.  I work every day to be aware of what is going on on my campus, and to educate teachers, staff, and students as to the damage bullying does to people and how it effects their lives.  What saved me over those dark years was a good group of friends.  They supported me, and didn't judge me.  There were adults in my high school life that I would go to, and who would listen to me and treat me like I mattered.  My music teachers were supprortive and loving.  While I never shared with them about the struggles I was having, I knew they cared, and that if I ever did tell them that they would be able to help.  Looking back, I should have done that, and many of the incidents that happened to me would have stopped.  I did my best to reach out to those who I saw being hurt, and we formed a network of caring friends who supported one another.  Those kids who bullied me when I was a kid are all either still immature and poorly adjusted adults, or they are remorseful about what they did as kids.  They made mistakes, and have even come to me to apologize.  Forgiving is hard, and while I will never forget what was done to me, it feels good to make peace with those people.  

There are people out there who care.  I care, and I am working every day to make the world a better place by placing myself in situations where I can impact the lives of students in my city.  There are adults out there who are doing the same for kids in your area.  You can create caring networks of students and adults in your area, and be the change you would like to see.  

 For ten years, I went through grade school with few friends after moving from a small town to a big city. Third grade through my senior year the bullying was mostly verbal or I was just plain ignored. They called me names because I didn't look like the other girls. I didn't dress like them. I just didn't fit in and they let me know. For a long time I thought it would be ok. I pretended like nothing that was going on was hurting me. Pretended that I didn't need them anyway, but it hurt and I didn't know how to get help.

I love people, now. At first I was angry and would not be friendly, because I was afraid of rejection for so long. I used to skip school just to not be around the people who were mean. I didn't like them and they didn't like me, but something was wrong. I was lonely. I got my diploma and thought I left high school behind me, but I only started to do things that I wasn't proud of with people I had nothing in common with to prove to myself that I was worthy. I was lost. I did things to just try and fit in and became a single mother as a result.

I never had anyone call me pretty or want to date me. I just wanted to prove that I was worth someone's affection, but what I needed was to see that I am beautiful. I am worthy. I am valuable and just because someone can't see the value in an uncut diamond doesn't mean the diamond isn't worth anything.

Diamonds that are found in coal - uncut- that look just like a regular rock- are worth more than the pretty ones because of their potential.

I didn't know that about myself, but now, when my little girl looks up to me I can see that she is priceless and a treasure. I can keep pushing on for her. I will finish college and focus on making her dreams come true. I will let her know how wonderful and worthy she is.

You are too. When you feel bad just remember, you are so young and your future has so much potential. You are bright and beautiful and colorful. Study hard and lose yourself in your ambition -not the things you hear from kids your age that don't even appreciate themselves. If you do something great you can look back and be glad that you gave the world something and it is a better place because you had an experience to make you a kinder and more loving person. Don't harden yourself. Forgive the kids that aren't encouraged by their parents to be kind to those who are different. Your life will be better for it.

  

My parents divorced when I was young. My mom and dad eventually remarried, but my mom's new marriage didn't last and she was then divorced from my sister's dad. So when I was younger I went through two divorces. Most children are only made to go through one, but I wasn't one of those kids. When I got to the 5th grade people started talking about my mom and her situation (being a single mother and divorced three times, she was married once before, but did not have any children with him.) There was this one boy who used to tell me that I was a problem child and that the reason my mom couldn't stay married was because of me, because I was making my mom's life miserable. He would call me mean names, throw stuff at me and try to mess with me on the play ground. Finally I got sick of it and told me teacher and he was sent to the principal's office and was moved to a different desk and told that if he was ever mean to me again his parents would be called and told about the incident. Later that same year he apologized and told me that he wouldn't have liked it if his parents were getting a divorce and I made him feel like it was his fault. From that day on in school we were always sticking up for each other.

 

Then when I was in middle school there was a girl who straight up didn't like me. I don't know why she just didn't. We were always hanging out with the same people, but she still really didn't like me. She would always tell me that no one wanted me in that group and that I was just there because they wanted someone to make fun of behind their back. She told me that I didn't belong and that I would never have any friends. I never did anything about what she had said except for talk to one of the girls in the group who I was closest to and she told me that was not the case and that there was never any reason that I should think that. She said if anything that girl was the one being made fun of behind her back for being so snotty, self centered, and stuck up. I never saw any of my friends in that group treating me differently than anyone else.

 

In high school there was this girl and yes she was a little different, but I was taught to love everyone and with my experiences with being bullied I didn't want her to go through that. I was somewhat popular in high school because I had become a cheerleader and was dating the star basketball player. This new girl was not by many people's standards popular. She was different and kind of peculiar. She didn't really know how to fit in. I felt bad for her because I have been their and I decided that I could help her by using my popularity to protect her. Unfortunately when I wasn't around the bullying was going on. I finally caught a group of boys ganging up on her and I jumped in the middle of them and told them to stop. These boys had been bullying her all year and finally I caught them and lashed out at them. I even told my mom and she threatened to have the cops called to the school and she wanted to scare them with aggravated assault charges on this girl. The girl did not have to worry about them anymore.

I have been bullied from a young age. Part of it is from moving around so much and some of it is because I wasn't perfect. No one is perfect. I have been pushed around and emotionally bullied my whole life. Bullying has physically and emotionally scared me. I have attempted to overdoes 3 times and have many scares. I have learned to get over what people have said to me about how I look or what i'm wearing. I just tell myself everything changes once I get out of high school. Depression has not helped this situation either. I don't need people to feel bad for me I have learned to ignore what people have said to me I just wanted to get my story out there and let other people know that if your being bullied to just ignore it and if you cant make yourself be heard. Don't let the bullies just push you around make someone see what is happening. Tell your parents, teacher, friends, or other people you can trust.

It all started when I was really young, I guess you could say I went through all of it at a young age.  It started in kindagarten, I had no friends and I was bullied a lot.  That went on until about second grade when I finally made some friends, but I didn't realize until later that they weren't actually my friends.  They still talked about me behind my back, it got worse and worse in fourth grade.  I remember crying myself to sleep and dreading the fact that I had to go to school.  In fourth grade I wasn't just emotionally abused anymore.  Only one person physically did it to me though, it was a girl who left and then came back.  No one liked her so I tried to befriend her, I was her only friend but she would punch, elbow, just did anything to inflict pain on me.  I told no one, I remember he birthday party, she invited a lot of people and I was the only one who went but she just ignored me the entire time.  My mom knew she was rude to me and had tried to get me to stand up for myself but I never did.  She asked me why I went and I told her she had no friends and I was her only one.  I was taught to kill them with kindness, but what I didn't know is that I had to stand up for myself too.  Fifth grade was the worst though, all of the bullying was even worse.  I was transferring schools the next year to a huge rival one because that was where my older brother went.  It was weird though, as much as I hated school, as much as I was bullied I wanted to stay there.  I guess it was because I was scared it would be worse at the new school. 

The summer before I moved, I don't know what happened, but that's when the depression hit.  I was in sixth grade and once again I had no friends, I didn't know how to make friends.  I did have one though, and that was only because I had gone to school with her before and I knew her, she was one of the only real friends I ever had.  I remember coming home and I just sat there, doing nothing.  I just stared at the wall and did nothing.  My mom kept trying to get through to me but it never worked, I only pushed her away more.  All the teachers at my new school knew my older brother and that made it worse. 

My brother started school early, skipped a grade, always got straight A's, did so many clubs, sports, my brother is a genious and is so athletic.  I always compared myself to him when I shouldn't of have.  He got A's without trying while I struggled for B's.  I always felt like the dumb child next to him and my little sister.

I would cry myself to sleep, every. Single. Night.  I would always hope that the next day would be better, but it never was.  The next summer was worse, I wanted to do absolutly nothing, I sat on my computer and its embaressing to me but I read fanfictions to get my mind off of it.  When school started again my best friend who is truely one of the most trustworthy people ever, came to my school.  I thought things were going to be better, I had made friends, I was a little happier.  Then I made a new friend, she was new to the school and I befriended her.  She was beautiful and confident and smart, I felt so insecure next to her.  All the guys liked her, all the guys I liked, liked her.  It was hard, but then I found out she was anorexic and bullimic, my best friend and I spent all that year helping her come out of it.  On top of that I was the friend everyone came to for advice, I was solving everyone else problems and just pushing off my own so they just hurt even worse when I felt them.  That next summer wasn't so bad until I came back to school.

I had become to think of self harm, the idea was terrible yet so tempting to me.  I didn't let myself do it though, I had to help my friends before anything.  But not only was I thinking of self harm but suicide as well, I never told anyone.  I didn't want to have to go to counceling and take anti-depressants.  The reason behind not wanting to take them was because they would force me to be happy and I knew that when I would be happy eventually I wanted it to be real, not a drug forcing me to be.

My friend who was previously anorexic told me she had been thinking of suicide, I kept telling her things would get better, I told her I would help her through it.  She was home alone and told me it would be so easy to just kill herself then, I saved her that night by staying up and just talking to her.  She made me promise not to tell anyone, I wanted to, I wanted to stop her from killing herself.  Her parents had already made her go to counceling before and she didn't want to go back.  I never told anyone, we were at a football game and she was in tears and she just wanted to kill herself.  I was calling my bestfriend who knew about it and I was in tears as well.  It ended up she was fine, and now she is happy and okay.  That was in the beginning of 8th. 

Towards thanksgiving break, I was breaking more and more.  I couldn't stop crying at night and I had started having Panic attacks.  It was the first or second night of break and I just completely broke and I was home alone sobbing and was trying to tear apart my razor for my legs.  That was the first time I selfharmed.  I was so ashamed of what I had done I immeaditly texted my two friends I trusted one smacked me and the other told me I was turning into another (Name or friend who was bullimic).  That was when I just stopped telling my friends things, I could only trust myself.

I didn't do it again until around January and I couldn't hide it from one friend who was going through the exact same thing I was, but she knew what it was like and we helped eachother through it.  I was still broken and had the thought of suicide on my mind, I never would have done it though, I knew I had people who needed me, and I wanted to be alive to help them.

I don't know how I came out of my depression, that is still a mystery to me.  But I had kept pushing my family away and most of all my big brother.  He had driven me to school all the time in 8th grade and we became closer, he confided in me about things but I never told him anything.  I spent all my life telling myself my brother hated me, that he was a huge jerk.  But this year he left for college and my mom told me what he did.

She said my six grade year he would always go looking for me to make sure I was okay, he was the one to always ask if I was ok, he was always there but I never knew it.  I thought I should have been born into a different family, I thought they didn't love me and they never cared for me.  i never realized that family was always there even when I didn't know it.  They kept trying to get through to me but I would push them away.  I had built these walls that only my brother tore down and I don't think he knows that.  Family is always there, even when I turned my back on them, they were there.

My brother is at college and I'm in 9th grade, my first year of highschool and I am finally becoming happy, slowly, but I am getting there.  It is strange because all I've ever known is sadness, being happy is strange to me and its a little scary.  But now I know what its like to be depressed, to selfharm, and to want to die.  And I don't regret any of it because now I want to help people going though it.  The biggest thing I learned was you're not alone, you think the whole world may be against you but they aren't.  You are strong enough to get through this, I believe in you.

    When I was kid, I was so happy. I was never mad or angry. But in 4th grade I met my best friend. We never fought. But that ended about in 6th grade. While everyone was changing.She changed a lot. While I was still my 6th grade self wearing hoodies and putting my hair in pony tails, she would curl hers and wear dresses. But that didn't bother me. The thing that bothered me was she said she new a guy that liked me. She would say he talks about me all the time. That was a lie. She even said it was. I still hung out with her until she told her mom I did something bad..and I got in trouble for that. I didn't talk to her for 3 months.(we sat next to each other on the bus) but I forgave her in the end. 7th grade. I don't know if I have a sign saying to hate me but. I was so unloved. I met another friend. We stood by each other for most of the school year. Until she told someone I called them a whore. I got kicked off the bus for that. The worst part of all. when I started to ignore her she told everyone I called her a whore. And in the end..I forgave her. I have this curse to forgive people when they have hurt me so much. Is it a curse or is it a gift worth using in my life?