When I was in 4th grade, my parents wanted me to go to this really high end school. I protested, but to no avail. At first, I was not excited in the least bit. But after I started there, I found it was worse than I had imagined. I was placed in a classroom full of students who hated me, only because of how I looked. I tried so hard to impress them, but that made no difference. They started calling me names, making fun of my glasses, pushing me around at recess, and calling me a teacher's pet. I was so angry and hurt that I would often cry at home; without my parents knowing. I played everything off and always put a smile on my face. My 5th, 6th, and 7th grade year, go a little better, but not much. I was still called names, made fun of, pushed around, called a teachers pet, kiss up, etc. In 8th grade however, things changed. I started to realize I need to look at the bright side of life. I remembered how much more important it was to do things my way, and not worry about what everyone else thought of me.

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 When I entered high school, I am now a senior, I was everyone's target to bully. I had football players coming up to me calling my four-eyes, brown nose, snitch, wimp, and everything in-between. It was not until a junior, when I was a freshman, came up to me and asked to be friends, that I realized I was liked, and accepted. I always thought people were going to make fun of me, push me around, and cause me to hate life. After that moment, I had someone who would always back me up. I ended up happy to come to school, because I knew that my friend was there to help me through tough times. 

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As you get older, you realize more and more, how bullying affects people. I've had many friends cut because they thought there was nothing else to live for. Well I want to tell you, there is always something to live for. I want you to think of everything that has ever happened/is happening to you. Yes, I know it hurts, but look at the bright side. It has made you stronger. It has taught you to rise up, and be the better man/woman. I know that it takes time, and time is not your best adversary when you're being bullied. Since the beginning of that friendship with my junior friend, I have looked for children/teenagers who are the subject of bullying, and tried to help them. It makes me very angry when I see a person getting picked on because of their ethnicity, physical characteristics, speech impediment, crooked jawline, etc. I have stepped in a few times when a person was being made fun of, even though I look like a buzzkill or a stupid little b**ch for stepping in, and called them over to hang out with me. 

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Every single person is the same, not one is better, cooler, or more hip than the other. I want to put and end to bullying; not only because I have experienced and know the feelings first hand, but because I do not want others to have to go through the pain. Every person is beautiful, no matter what others say. It is very unfortunate that bullies find comfort in making fun of other people, but it will catch up to them one day. It is a very hard road to travel down, but if we keep pursuing the finish line, it will get better. We will prevail, we will overcome, we are the minority, and we will not be masked. We are content with what he have, and we do not have to worry about our appearance to others. Live your life the way you want, and don't let anyone stop you. You are all precious, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. No matter what they say, ignore it, and keep persevering. It WILL get better. I promise.

When I was in 4th grade, my parents wanted me to go to this really high end school. I protested, but to no avail. At first, I was not excited in the least bit. But after I started there, I found it was worse than I had imagined. I was placed in a classroom full of students who hated me, only because of how I looked. I tried so hard to impress them, but that made no difference. They started calling me names, making fun of my glasses, pushing me around at recess, and calling me a teacher's pet. I was so angry and hurt that I would often cry at home; without my parents knowing. I played everything off and always put a smile on my face. My 5th, 6th, and 7th grade year, go a little better, but not much. I was still called names, made fun of, pushed around, called a teachers pet, kiss up, etc. In 8th grade however, things changed. I started to realize I need to look at the bright side of life. I remembered how much more important it was to do things my way, and not worry about what everyone else thought of me.

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When I entered high school, I am now a senior, I was everyone's target to bully. I had football players coming up to me calling my four-eyes, brown nose, snitch, wimp, and everything in-between. It was not until a junior, when I was a freshman, came up to me and asked to be friends, that I realized I was liked, and accepted. I always thought people were going to make fun of me, push me around, and cause me to hate life. After that moment, I had someone who would always back me up. I ended up happy to come to school, because I knew that my friend was there to help me through tough times. 

---

 

As you get older, you realize more and more, how bullying affects people. I've had many friends cut because they thought there was nothing else to live for. Well I want to tell you, there is always something to live for. I want you to think of everything that has ever happened/is happening to you. Yes, I know it hurts, but look at the bright side. It has made you stronger. It has taught you to rise up, and be the better man/woman. I know that it takes time, and time is not your best adversary when you're being bullied. Since the beginning of that friendship with my junior friend, I have looked for children/teenagers who are the subject of bullying, and tried to help them. It makes me very angry when I see a person getting picked on because of their ethnicity, physical characteristics, speech impediment, crooked jawline, etc. I have stepped in a few times when a person was being made fun of, even though I look like a buzzkill or a stupid little b**ch for stepping in, and called them over to hang out with me. 

---

 

Every single person is the same, not one is better, cooler, or more hip than the other. I want to put and end to bullying; not only because I have experienced and know the feelings first hand, but because I do not want others to have to go through the pain. Every person is beautiful, no matter what others say. It is very unfortunate that bullies find comfort in making fun of other people, but it will catch up to them one day. It is a very hard road to travel down, but if we keep pursuing the finish line, it will get better. We will prevail, we will overcome, we are the minority, and we will not be masked. We are content with what he have, and we do not have to worry about our appearance to others. Live your life the way you want, and don't let anyone stop you. You are all precious, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. No matter what they say, ignore it, and keep persevering. I WILL get better. I promise.

Hello. My name is Jamee and I am 20 years old. When I was in middle school I went to a private school. The people at this school were richer than I was, had nicer things, were what they considered better looking than me, and because I was the new kid.....and because I was different I was rejected. I moved to Florida when I was 11 and in the 6th grade. I left my family, my friends and everything I've ever known behind, and the place I went to I wasn't accepted in. My little sister who was 8 years old at the time and in the 3rd grade was being bullied as well. The kids in her class made a game called "Alyssa cooties" which meant if Alyssa as much looked at you, you had cooties and had to spread them to someone else. She hated herself. She had no one but me.

High school, at least I thought, was going to be different. Yet again, however, freshman year this one girl chose me as her subject of torture. I'd cry everyday. I told my parents, my teachers, and I just felt like no one wanted to help me. I had this girl making other people come up to me and ask me why I was such a bitch. It was literally the worst feeling. People kept saying, "Oh she's just jealous of you!" All I could think was why would anyone be jealous of someone like me?

I'm 20 years old working on my second college degree, I have a wonderful boyfriend of over a year now and friends that love me for exactly the person that I am. I have a part time job that I'm very successful at and life is good! I had what some people would consider support from my family and the "friends" I did have. I have to say though, I got through it by myself. I can't imagine how people with stories that are much worse than mine make it everyday. I just want to say that I love you. EVERY SINGLE PERSON DESERVES A CHANCE! You....you...deserve a chance and I respect and value you.

 

Thanks for reading.

My younger brother is 14 years old and has just started highschool. However, when he was in middle school, he was being picked on on the bus, at school, in gym and etc. He reached the point to where he was getting depressed because he had no friends and he didn't feel like he fitted in. After months of speaking to a counselor at the school, he stopped getting picked on the bus however, he got called a snitch and continued not making friends. He wasn't the best at speaking to people his own age which stopped him from speaking up for himself, let alone make at least one friend. Luckily, he made his first friend after we got new neighbors with a kid his own age and in his school. They rode the bus together, had class together and walked home together. My heart leaps with joy however, I can't help but think that even though he has made a friend and he's no longer alone at school, he might still get picked on in high school. He showed me "Bully" and all he spoke about is how he wished every one watched that movie so he can show how he felt. 

There can be no doubt that bullying is a serious problem in our schools. Bullying can have serious effects on the physical and emotional well-being of bullied students. Schools with high rates of bullying perform worse academically than schools with lower rates of bullying. And, students who commit acts of school violence frequently have been victims of bullying. LGBT youth are particularly susceptible to bullying. These students may already be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality in a hostile cultural environment that may even extend to their own families. For them, bullying exacerbates the trauma and turmoil they may be facing. LGBT youth suffer higher rates of suicide than the general population, and estimates are that between 30 and 40% of LGBT youth have attempted suicide. Many LGBT youth who commit suicide have been victims of bullying at school. For all of these reasons, the ACLU of Virginia supports strong anti-bullying policies that protect students from harassment and intimidation, provide a safe and effective means for students to report bullying, and allow for appropriate investigation of complaints and discipline of bullies.

            It is never late for someone to say what they think or to take a stand for what they believe. Tolerance is a very hard quality to find during high school, especially when it is a big campus. Back in my country the school I used to attend had a big campus. After spending almost all my life there I knew pretty much everyone, and everyone knew me. When I started seventh grade I took too many wrong decisions and in the end I had to do seventh grade again.

            I hated the idea of staying in the same school and that made the new beginning even harder. I had acquaintances but not real friends there and my old friends stopped talking to me. I was all by myself. The time went by super fast and I started to made friends easily, especially with the guys on the soccer team. But at the same time I was making good friends a guy decided that his new hobby was to make fun of me for everything. He even stared at me for two or three classes at a time, making me feel very uncomfortable.

            After some weeks things were the same. It didn’t matter how I asked him to stop he kept making fun and jokes and making me feel very bad. One day, he decided it would be hilarious to grab me from my back and drag me around the room. That was the breaking point. I could not stand him any longer. I got out of his hands and punched him in the chest. The fight was just starting. He tried to punch me but I avoided his fist. I cornered him and everyone started to gather around. They wanted that fight as much I wanted to beat him up but one of my best friends decided it was enough and hugged me so that I would stop. Some other guys took out the guy I was fighting with.

            Since that episode no one even tried to put me down. The reputation I gained was big and I wanted to keep it that way. I had power and influence among all of the seventh graders and because of the backup they gave me some eight graders started to be my friends too. That power was making me an ugly human being. If I had problems with someone I would make everyone turn against that person. I did not use my influence to help or stop bullying until my friend passed away.

            My friend was a very sweet girl; she was always smiling and was always willing to help. Friendship was a huge thing for her. She was very loyal. She had this dream of being president and fixing the country. But getting into high school was not easy. A group of kids decided to bully her and a lot of kids around the school joined them. The level of bullying was exaggerated, to the point that she couldn’t walk through seventh grade hallway. She had to go around the school to avoid us.

            I never took a stand for her and I regret it so much. I was so busy taking care of my reputation that I totally forgot about doing the right thing and I let her down.  One Friday afternoon she had a brain problem; her body crashed and she entered into coma. She was like that for almost a week and she didn’t make it, and died on a Thursday night. During this time, I realized how valuable is a friend. How important is to do the right thing and use the power one has to help others, take a stand and support the ones in need. 

I am currently the target of bullying and I am a grown woman.  It wasn't something I really ever gave much thought to, especially adult on adult bullying, until it happened to me, and is STILL happening.  It is heart breaking, reputation destroying and has ruined our neighborhood for us.  If I and my husband can feel so trapped and helpless, how much moreso for a child?

It all started with a new neighbor that moved next door.  For six years (approx.) my husband and I had lived mostly drama free in our home.  Then this man moved in with the lady who had not long before moved in and between the two of them and their kids, I believed they were the answer to a much prayed heart's desire of mine.  He was so nice and went way out of the way to be helpful but then he started doing things that were just off.  Things normal people just don't do.  One day, he slipped out of sight to listen in on a conversation I was having in my driveway and part of that conversation was about him and the things he was doing any my thoughts on that matter.  From that point on, he turned like a rabid dog and began slinging around rumors about me that grew and grew and have, last I have heard, made me out to be the neighborhood slut looking to have sex with any and all males that will with me.  

My husband was next on his radar (though not nearly as defaming as what has been said of me) after he took some of these tales to my husband (no doubt trying to cause major problems in my marriage) and my husband stood against them knowing my character.

This situation has been one of the hardest trials our family has been through.  While we all need to stand up against bullying of our children, we also need to realize that it happens to adults to.  There are neighbors that do not believe his tales but not one of them have said anything in our defense.  Adults need to speak up for the innocent and stop letting bullies ruin lives and run people away from the places that should be safe. 

I grew up in a close-knit neighborhood in a small town filled with broken dreams. Everyone knew everyone & if you were new in town your story was sure to be spilled within 24-hours. I was a skinny seven year old with hair to my butt and enough freckles for every child in my school. Throughout Elementary school I was always the bully, I felt like I had to be on top to be noticed or no one would like me anymore. Three years had passed and at a very early age I learned what suicide meant and when my sisters boyfriend, "went away for awhile" it didn't take long for me to realize he wasn't coming home and in the Summer of 2008 I grew up faster then any ten year old child should. At the beginning of fifth grade I became isolated from my friends and family and soon I didn't enjoy anyone's company. I was stubborn, I got in many fights, and had I turned into a child every parent would consider a nightmare. Sixth grade is when things took a turn, I wasn't the bully anymore I was now the bullied. Nothing every hit me more then the day I was put through what I had been putting others through for years. I was now the "emo" kid. I was ugly, to tall, my hair was to short (I had gotten it cut right above my shoulders) & kids started calling me, "Chey the guy" I had very few friends due to the fact I had recently moved & I thought things would be different. But I was wrong. 7th & 8th grade were no different for me. I had only lost more friends in the process of trying to find who I really was. I stopped eating and began self-harming. Kids treated me like I was a freak, or a monster. I couldn't blame them because I was only receiving what I had been "dishing out" for most of my childhood. I felt like I deserved what was being said and done to me. Kids pushed me against lockers , "book checked" me, called me names and tripped me whenever I walked by. At the beginning of 9th grade I had finally had enough. After a Summer spent alone and dozens of hate messages and phone calls I could take it anymore. I decided that enough was enough and I was giving up. I wrote my parents a letter almost as long as a book telling them how much I loved them and that it wasn't there fault. That I hoped they wouldn't blame themselves. At I had set out to do what I thought would be the best for everyone. To this day I am glad that I failed. Because I wouldn't be here now to tell my story. To tell you all the good part. Things turned around in 10th grade. Over the Summer I had finally gained the courage to tell people all the things that I had went through over the past five years. I had made a list and apologized to every single person I had done wrong as a child. I got my life together and I haven't quite found who I truly am yet. But I believe I am on the right path. I moved again in 10th grade and a new slate was the best thing that ever happened to me. No one knows me or my past. Today I am still bullied but I've come to realize that just because someone says something to you, doesn't mean you have to listen. I want every person out there that is bullied today to know that they are loved and they a very special people. You are all important. You will all make someone proud one day. You make me proud right now. Keep fighting. <3 Your heart beats for a reason. You're alive for a purpose. Never give up. <3

If anyone is being bullied or harassed through mobile phone bullying, cyberbullying and e-mail bullying, there are methods that can be used to prevent this from occurring

If you own a smart phone with android software, you can purchase or even download tablet security software, this software usually has call blocking and text message blocking facilities, all you need to do is add the number that is sending you offensive text messages and tick the block call and block text message button. If you don't have a smart phone, and you are receiving offensive text messages then you need to change your mobile phone number, and to prevent this from occurring again in the future, make sure you only give your mobile phone number to people you know and trust.

If you are being cyber bullied through Facebook or Twitter, the best way to stop bullying through social network sites is to identify the person who is bullying you and block them immediately and report them to the social network site, this sends a clear message that it is not acceptable and you will not stand for it. If the cyber bully then signs up to Facebook or Twitter with a different alias, and starts bullying and harassing you again, try blocking them again, if this persists the best advice I can give is to shut down your Facebook or Twitter account. Think about it, bullies can't cyber bully you if you don't have a profile on Facebook or Twitter.

If you are receiving offensive or bullying e-mails, there are measures that can be taken to prevent this from occurring, the first and most obvious measure is to change your e-mail address and only give the new e-mail address to people who you know and trust. If you are reluctant to do that there are other measures that can be taken, you can usually select an option in the e-mail software you are using to send any e-mails from a certain e-mail address directly to the recycle bin so you don't have to read them, before taking one of these two measures make sure you report the bullying e-mails to your broadband service provider and the Police, this will clearly send a message that this sort of behavior is not acceptable and will also send a very clear message that you will not stand for this or tolerate this.

I hope this information is helpful to anyone who is being bullied, or harassed through e-mail, text messages, or through social network sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Please don't stand for this sort of bullying, it is not acceptable, stand up to bullies, speak up and fight back!!!

It was never easy. having certain health issues that people didn't understand made me an easy target growing up, and of course, being depressive didn't make it any easier. I overcame thoughts of suicide (four times) through compassion from those that loved me along with counseling and therapy and have become a fervent advocate for this cause. This is one cycle that we need to break! No ifs, ands or buts about it, IT NEEDS TO STOP. 

 

You are loved, you boys and young men are handsome, and you girls and young ladies ARE beautiful, we've all been there. is it fair? No. Do you deserve it? 

 

Not at all whatsoever.

 

Remember: You are loved, you are beautiful, and just remember when you feel like nobody thinks so?

 

I do.