I grew up going to a very conservative Catholic school. It wasn't exactly a safe place to be different. I started getting bullied in Kindergarten, but it was just the normal kid stuff at that point. Everyone got picked on. "Alex has a boys name!", "Alex is fat!", "Alex is a nerd!" Looking back, it was harmless, but I was a gifted student, and I took every criticism to heart. I retreated from my class, finding comfort in reading and writing. I let them call me their names and whatever, but I ignored them. I got to the point that I even ignored people who were nice to me because they usually ended up joining the heard anyway. I got to 5th grade with only one friend. I lost her soon enough too, though.

In fifth grade, I had this teacher, Mrs. A, I'll call her. Mrs. A taught us in religion class that gay people are evil. I told her I didn't believe that because my mom told me that no one could be evil just for loving another person and because my mom's friends and my aunt's friends were all awesome gay men who were really nice. Everyone assumed I was gay. People avoided me, called me new names like "faggot" and "lesbian" and "dyke". It kept going on through school. All the religion teachers I had had the same view. I lost any friends I once had because they sided with the majority. I started cutting myself as a way to express the pain I felt and make it real. I was suicidal.

It carried into high school. I had even worse teachers and students making fun of me and threatening me because I questioned their beliefs. I dared to be different. I started getting quiet again, letting them believe what they want. Every time I got into a debate, I earned a new name; abortion gets brought up, now I'm "baby killer". People thought I was some communist, atheist, extremist who hated babies, soldiers, and the American way. Kids broke into my band locker and smashed my guitar. They wrote things like "Fag" and "Fuck you!" on my locker door. They stole my homework and notes. I even had a teacher ask me if it would be ok if he killed me since I "thought abortion was ok".

I transferred to public school after my sophomore year of high school. It was the best decision of my life. I stopped cutting, I joined theatre, I found friends, I went to college and got away from my home town. My parents never knew how bad it got. I told them I transferred so I could join the gifted program at the public school. My teachers knew, but did nothing. Even the principal knew what my teacher had said to me, and did nothing but invite me to debate with him so I avoided doing it in the classroom.

I almost killed myself several times between fifth grade and 10th grade, but I didn't out of sheer will power. I know that if I hadn't transferred, I wouldn't be here right now. I still struggle with depression and self esteem issues, but I'm ok. I'm 20, happily married, and in school to be a teacher so maybe I can do something about bullying.

It feels so good to finally get that off my chest.

I cant remember a point in my life when i haven't loved singing, dancing or being on the stage. When I first started primary school it was compulsory to do ballet but hey we were like 2 (nursery). Anyway all the boys dropped it the second they could (year 1). But there was this one kid who didn't want to quit, who loved dancing , who saw it as his escape from the world . (you guessed it) that kid was me. I carried on my ballet all the way to year 5 and won the school award. Now there was this other kid in the year above me (lets call him Jack) who has won that award 3 times a row and i broke his streak, now me being 9 or 10 years old i just saw this as an amazing thing and couldn't believe my luck (not in a nasty was what-so-ever). But little did i know something so insignificant would become what it did. Jack seemed fine with it at first but eventually he began to become really nasty and spiteful and when i got asked to do workshops for a very famous ballet school he made the whole school HATE me, literally not one person supported me and nobody was my friend now that's pretty hard on a 10 year old. 

HOWEVER. I knew and he knew that primary school didn't last forever and come next year we both went our separate ways WOOOO

Not the end but merely the beginning. I didn't do great in my exams for secondary school and wound up going to a comprehensive (and a rough one at that) . Now thats a pretty big change for a privately schooled boy. I started this school thinking it would be a fresh start and put a smile on my face.

Within a week . A WEEK . I had been singled out by these boys for being the 'posh private school kid with a funny accent' they used to shout things like 'bet your parent are well rich' trying to search me for expensive things or imitating my accent. My parents aren't rich but they sacrificed alot to get me privately schooled so those comments really hit home. 

Me being me i just sucked it up and carried on. 

Then. One assembly i was called up, didn't know for what. But the school had been informed that i did ballet and was starring in a show and they wanted to congratulate me. Upon finishing the announcement and an applause i felt pretty damn good, i thought 'they all took it really well'. But they didn't . AT . ALL

The second after assembly i must've got it off , not just a few boys, but hundreds of students 'BALLET BOY BALLET BOY' , 'go on give us a turn' or simply 'GAYYYYYY'

This went on for 2 years, 2 miserable years of getting thrown in bushes, having things thrown at me, having my stuff took. All because i did something i loved

Well i made a decision, and i gave up ballet and pretty soon the comments stopped, the taunting stopped, i was ok at school. I thought 'great should've done this years ago'

But i wasn't great, i felt defeated, i felt i let myself down, i felt more ashamed than when they teased me about it. 

One day i woke up and i literally said ENOUGH and that was it, the turning point

I applied for a performing arts college to do musical theatre with little hope i would get in because of my absence of dance for a year. But on the 3rd of February when i opened that letter i knew it would all get better, i knew this would TRULY be a new beginning for me and

IVE
NEVER
LOOKED
BACK

Anyway (finally a conclusion) the point of all this is that you ARE different and there is a reason, you just have to stay strong and not give up like i did. BUT if you feel as if you have given up then stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something about it, not for anyone else. FOR YOU.

SO go find that reason, and don't let any amount of BULLIES (hate the word) get you down, because if you keep working then who's going to be laughing in the end

 

I AM DiFfErEnT AND I LOVE IT  

 

                                      - Bobby :) 

I spent the days of third grade through Jr High dreading school. Not because of sitting in class or homework. I hated going to school because everyday more than a few people would find ways to belittle me. Never any physical violence (I'd probably prefer that) but all emotional put-downs. They would make fun of my hair, clothes, face, and anything I said. They would make up things about me like, "I just saw her pick her nose and eat it." Everyone would believe it, I suppose because they weren't courageous enough to stick up for me. The worst was when it was crossing the sexual line. I remember hearing in 6th grade, "You'll never get your period because you are too ugly to have babies." I was maybe a little different personality, I dressed in low-priced clothing, I was quiet and sensitive. At the time I felt like I must be less than them because everyone else it seemed was telling me so. I couldn't escape it, no matter how hard I tried. I tried having my hair perfect and tried liking what they liked. It was no use. I tried making different friends but there were only a couple people that would dare to be seen with me. I couldn't tell my Mom or the teacher. It was embarrassing and I feared making it worse. There was even an indifferent teacher that I swore saw things happen and never said anything. I cried so many nights and even thought about ending it all. I clung on to the hope that one day I'd be away from these people. Diana was my saving grace that carried me through those hard years. Diana was a special friend that went to daycare at my Mom's house. She is a year older than me and was naïve to what was going on with me. I started going to her youth groups. There I found the love and life of Jesus to lift my spirits. Still then, I was too broken to feel good enough about myself to even stand up against anyone at school. But, I feel that it got me through. Even when the criticizing stopped, I still had many inferiority issues. I never had many friends through high school. I was not very close to them. It was always in my subconscious that they were hanging out with me out of pity, that they'd never come to anything if I invited them, and I was constantly worried about being judged. I was very quiet after that and no wonder. When all your peers used to shoot down your ideas and find a way to twist your words, you kind of get that way. Thank God for college! It took me a year into it, of being away from the people who nearly ruined my life, to get more comfortable with myself. I made some good friends and gained a strong foothold on self worth. I'm still a bit on the quiet side, but I have broken out of my shell from where I was. I'm okay with myself now. The funny thing is, I'm not angry at the bullies anymore. I've come to peace with the way my life played out. I'm married, two kids, successful carrier (success is the best revenge, right?), and living in my dream suburb. Although I still struggle with the emotional effects, I'm doing okay.

And it is the first day of school. Your in the first grade... again. You spent your first year of first grade being bullied. Being told in class to "shut up and put your hand down." You spent the first year being made fun of for the lunches you brought, the clothes you wore, the way you styled your hair, and just about everything else you did or said. You got rocks thrown in your ears, birthday invitations crumpled up and thrown back in your face. You ended every day jumping inside moms car and swearing it went fine. "K****n was nice to me today, were friends now I think." When asked what you did during recess you answer, "I hid in my hiding spot because I couldn't find the playground teacher." And swear as well that it's okay, you like to hide in your hiding spots.

 

Hi, my name is April. My husbands name is Matt. We are the proud parents of a left handed, red headed, freckle faced, unique seven year old. We found out our son was being bullied in the beginning of first grade. The bully was a fellow classmate. The problem was brought up six different occasions via phone, email, and hand written notes to the teacher. Each time I had been told, "That's not okay," "I never see any issues with him and other kids?" And other non-aggressive uninterested responses.

 

I am a stay at home mother. At the beginning of our sons first grade year I had a desire to homeschool. My husband wasn't so on board, as our son is very out going, and full of energy. He (was) such a social little man, so to my husband is was a slightly bizarre idea. As we began to watch him struggle with reading, and I began to nag my husband seemingly every day about things our son would tell me, my husband slowly came around to the idea. When we found out he had to re-do first grade, the memory of last years bullying came front and center on my mind. Along with the fact that the only subject he has a hard time with is reading. He is excelled in all other aspects. My husband wanted to give it a try for a bit then incorporate homeschooling after the first month. As I sent my son on his way into the school that morning, I just knew we'd made a wrong choice. I had for the first time ever, left my phone in the car after a errand I ran, only to go fetch it a hour later and see multiple missed calls from the school and my husband. Then the chaos entailed. My husband relayed to me that the school had called, and our boy had been punched in the cheek. He was swollen and red, but appeared over all okay. I called the school on my way to get him and was told "Oh, he is okay. He is in class, he was punched but we don't understand what he told us. No one is in trouble, we believe it was a accident." As I walked in I demanded the principle and (they know me, sadly) she said well we think someone may have bumped him in line. He's fine. I'll call him down. I had requested he be brought back to the office immediately when I phoned in to let them know I was on my way. They were in no hurry so I myself went down the hall and to his classroom. He was crying, Had a red puffy cheek, red chin, and his eye was swollen. I confronted the teacher and waited until class was over and we had a conversation. I let her know last years history, and that our son would not be in  for a while. His teacher worked with me very well, I was rather impressed. She let me know a third different story from what all the other staff had, that he had been beat up. That our son did not know the name of the children, and that she had spoke to my husband.

 

We kept him home the following day, which is today, and he will be home for a unknown amount of time. I phoned in to the school today, and phoned the other public school only to get the following news, we can not have him transferred to the other school. We want him to take reading and spelling in the public school while we supplement all other courses at home, the principle told me today that it is up to her and the other schools principle if he will be transferred. Now I do not know the extent of the truth behind this matter, but with the circumstance at hand you would imagine they had a system arranged where (if room allows, and for any child in this situation) that they could make it work. The principle set up a meeting for next Monday, and told me "Well I will leave a note for who ever is here tomorrow" as she is out of office. Now maybe it is my mother bear instinct, but I can not help but feel we are being brushed off. I feel that they just don't care. They are implementing to measure to help with the situation, they have not pursued the child who did this, they have not interrogated the child who accompanied the child who hit our son. My main and front concern is my child, in the back of my mind then comes everyone elses children. If our son is not there to push around, is it your son these boys pick next? Why is it that these young adults are having to go to extremes because they feel there is no way to avoid being bullied? Why do they have to hurt so bad they feel it wont end? Why do we see "13, 15, 16," etc. on the news of having pictures sent around the school, web, children mocked and bullied until we hear about there demise on the television? Seriously? Do not work in any field that involves children if your too heartless to put forth effort to protect them. Come on. Yet on the front doors of this school our son attends are these ridiculous half way taped fliers that say "Stop. Bully free zone" And things to that effect. Just because you hang a piece of paper up doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. I am in no way implying that there will not be a single incident that occurs, that is unrealistic. But I am standing firm and saying that no parents, should ever, have to take their child to the Dr. due to rocks being thrown in his ears. No parent should have their child stop eating lunch because they are afraid they will be made fun of for what they brought that day. No parent should cry because they hear their child hides under the toys at school, has no friends, and is scared of the days they can't find the recess teacher.

 

We will not just hush and go away. We will go to whatever lengths we need to make sure that the people that didn't care to fulfill their duties in the positions they are in will be reprimanded. We will make sure, every one hears our story. And has open ears and open hearts to the many stories like ours.

I was always laughed at, called names, intimidated, punched in my stomach a lot, pinned down or held for punching. It ended when a big kid stood up for me and was beaten up by the group of bullies but he was able to get them arrested and sent away

Every day for me feels like a war, all people do is just tear me down and make me feel worthless, i have lived through this pretty much my whole life, no matter what i do i get bullied, i get judged for the people i sit with, i get judged for the clothes i wear, i get judged for the TV shows i watch, but the thing that really makes me cry is when people make up rumours and lie about me, it always gets spread around the whole school, people i don’t even know hate me for no reason at all, i feel like i have no friends, like i can’t trust anyone, and even the people i though i could trust just use me and spread it around. Even though i’m in grade 10 and nearly finished school, it doesn’t matter what i do, or what i think someone is talking about me and never in a nice way. people always tell to hold my head high and not to take it so bad and to that it will get better in the end, but i no it never will, and lots of times i have hurt myself because of it, people act nice to my face then behind my back they just are such judgemental people, and i am so sick of it. Everything that has to do with social media there is stuff written everywhere about me, and i’m just so tired of it, i just want it to stop, but i know it never will. i never cry in public but when i’m alone i will just break down and cry, people just can’t accept the fact that what they are doing to me is wrong, they are basically wrecking my life. i just want it to stop for ever, i have tried to move schools but mum won’t let me, i have tried telling her what’s going on but nothing ends up happening, i just want to be somewhere were i get accepted because i am so over everything, i just want it to stop !! But in no it won’t. To me every day is just hell, I hate getting up for school, and I hate the fact that every time I walk in the school people look at me funny then they look at each other and laugh, even when I walk past “THE POPULAR GROUP” **eye roll** they look at me funny and talk amongst themselves then laugh then look at me. Even in classes I have with them they are always talking about me, i’m just so tired of it, I wish they would wake up and realise what they are doing to me.

Hey, Um.

Well, lately i have been sick and people are say its because of the air and my family is saying its because I'm depressed.

I haven't been getting bullied so aggressively but its small, so its not bad, right?

Well, i have started self-harming again, I know that's bad, but i can't help it.

I have been sticking my hand with safety-pins, my parents and nobody knows.

I'm afraid of school. :(

I haven't told anyone that either.

I know i need help, nut it hurts me to admit it.

But, i feel safe posting stuff on here and asking for your help.

?do you guys and girls...um...well think you can help me out??

Every friend I have ever had has backstabbed me, ditched me, or started making fun of me cause they got popular. I went through all of freshman year with no friends and barely speaking 30 words. Sophomore year rolled around after a summer of sitting in my room all alone. I tried to be energetic and act happy but people just made fun of me for it. Then the lesbian rumor started. and when you're in a christian private school those kind of rumors aren't taken lightly. It got so bad, that girls would rather change out in the gym than in the locker room with me. When I would sit down in the desk next to someone they would scoot over in their chair and not give me the time of day. If someone walked in the class and saw that the only seat left was next to me they wouldn't even try to hide it. They would obviously get pissed that they had to sit next to me, and the whole class would laugh about it. Some times kids would push me into a classroom and put a chair up against the knob so I couldn't get out. One day, my favorite teacher that I would go to if I had an issue with anything came walking by. He looked at me, made eye contact, saw me pounding on the door and yelling.... and kept walking. That is one of those moments in life when you stop hearing sounds, your heartbeat is the only thing you can hear. My depression has gotten so bad that I'm literally thinking up new ways to kill myself every minute. What is the point of fighting so hard for something you don't even get to keep in the end. It doesn't make sense to me. Why do people care so much about this life. We live for a wile, then poof... we are gone. No one will remember us. They say that just to look like a good person. Nothing really matters. At all. 

I used to love school until I got bullied. My friends told me to go away and go home. I was a target for a bully they had spread a rumor about me that I was gay and they knew that I wasn't. One of my friends took the bully side and I didn't have any friends I still don't. I sit alone at lunch. After school on the bus I would text my mom and dad I don't have any friends. Then when I come home I would cry. My parents called the school and they told them that it was private they couldn't tell anyone what the bullies parents said. The bullies parents think that i'm the problem i'm not. My parents asked me if I wanted to do Homeschooling and I said if it can keep me away from bullies. Thank you for reading my paragraph. It means alot.

I used to love school until I got bullied. My friends told me to go away and go home. I was a target for a bully they had spread a rumor about me that I was gay and they knew that I wasn't. One of my friends took the bully side and I didn't have any friends I still don't. I sit alone at lunch. After school on the bus I would text my mom and dad I don't have any friends. Then when I come home I would cry. My parents called the school and they told them that it was private they couldn't tell anyone what the bullies parents said. The bullies parents think that i'm the problem i'm not. My parents asked me if I wanted to do Homeschooling and I said if it can keep me away from bullies. Thank you for reading my paragraph. It means alot.