Glad to see this website. Bullying is a serious problem.

when I started middle school I knew a lot of people many didn't like me and I don't know why? I always thought it was because I wasn't in style or because I wasn't like the others,i wasn't as cool as them. it really hurt me they use to push me around I use to do there homework because I thought that they would like me if I did there homework but I was wrong it just made them more mean! all they did was call me monkey,unibrow girl, weirdo, freak,and soo much more they would also push me to the ground and kik me or at lunch they would throw food at me and pore the milk at me I would always be humiliated, one time at the bus on my way home I was sitting next to my bestfriend and there was a group of girl were they grabbed a lizard and they put it down my shirt I was crying I started having a panic attack no one did anything to help me all they did was laugh or just stare I never understood why people wanted to do all of these horrible things to me. another time walking home from the bus stop these too boys came from behind me and grabbed me by the force and took my bookbag and put it in dog poo and then they poored everything out of my bookbag and ruined my books and when they were done they pushed me to the floor. I didn't cry infront of them but wheni was sure I was alone I cried like there was no tomorrow when I got home I told my parents and they told me that they were going to talk to the principle the next day but as always the school board doesn't do anything the bullying would go on they would throw fire crackers at me when they knew I would get really scared. one day I locked myself in my bathroom and grabbed a needle and started cutting myself I thought it was my only way out of all the hurt. I still wish that people wouldn't see me like a freak I just want friends and its all I ask for -Stephanie R

I was always very androgynous as a child. I transitioned to male at age 29 but looking back I dont know how I survived childhood. I was bullied from high school mainly.. I didnt look like a girl, I was shaving my face by age 12, had acne, crooked teeth, short hair and was built physically like a boy. I had broad shoulders and no hips. My legs looked like I played football. In years 5 and 6 I went to an accelerated learning program for bright kids. It was there I met one of my best friends who always supported me and even helped me lie to student teachers that I was a boy :) Her name is M. and she and I lost touch after I left that school. But Ill get to that later. So then I went to high school, I got shoved into walls, told I was a thing, and an IT, and a freak and a lezzo. I had badly fluctuating levels of hormones and as a result had bad body odour so by lunch time I would smell so bad the kids would stay away from me. I was miserable, mixed up, androgynous, masculine, strong, angry and left out. Id get into fights and hit kids back if they hit me, but generally I would try and stay out of peoples way. I was very intelligent but could not finish high school because of being spat on, yelled at to be more female or go die, asked if I took steroids, and all the things that you could imagine someone saying to a girl who looked like a boy, or a boy that wore a school dress. Faggot, poofter, gay, fucked up you name it. That was me. So I left school at 15 and got a job, I didnt like myself very much and didnt know how to behave as a girl really.. my boss sexually harrassed me and I didnt know what to do..I felt that I was going to be a disappointment to my mother because my sister has intellectual disabilities, so I thought it was my job to give her grandchildren and become a mother. So I met a guy who accepted me as I was, said he would change me, so he bullied and harrassed me, threatened to tell people I was really a transperson trapped in a female body.. I had three children with him, and then finally Id got sick of his bullying too so I left him. Then a few years later after my first relationship with a woman, I realised that I would be much happier living as a man, and my life got slowly better. Im all grown up now, 43, and my kids are 26 24 and 19. My son is a school teacher, and he was picked on at school too, but like me he survived and has made a success of his life. I work for the Salvation Army, as they have accepted me as a man and I help other men learn to sell furniture and I test electrical appliances. I went from being a sad, androgynous, miserable kid to a bullied wife, to a parent of 3 great kids who accept me and a role model to other men. It was hard but my philosophy was to put my feet on the floor each morning and get out of bed. That is all you can do- keep going as tomorrow is a new day. And by the way- I met that girl that I was friends with at primary school again last year (due to the magic of Facebook!) she means the world to me and I adore her. It is early days, and we are slowly getting to know one another again, but I am looking forward to the rest of my life.

Going through school I didn't have a ton of friends. I was pretty shy and I never really felt like I 'fit in'. It wasn't always aweful, but I remember being comepletely crushed at times and thinking that things were never going to get better or change for me. I got called horrible names, the guys that everyone wanted to be friends with would actually prank call me and at times the things they would say honestly made me cry. I hated high school for that reason. It was hard to get up and go in the mornings. Last year a beautiful, funny, incredible girl I knew gave up and took her own life because of bullying. The sad thing is this happens more than we think. The reason I want to get involved in the bully project is because I want to prevent this from happening to anymore young kids, because the truth is is that you have so much more ahead of you. You have a wonderful life written out for you and you never need to give up or feel like there is no one that cares. Please guys, think about the actions you take and the words you say to others, because truth is words hurt and you have no idea what that person may be dealing with. Always think about something before you say it. It should never be your intention to hurt someone else. We are all equal and we are here to love one another.

I moved to a new city before I started fifth grade, so I was very nervous when school started. I met a few people that would eventually become my friends, but there were two girls that I became a little closer to. When I started sixth grade, I went to a middle school that was also attached to a high school. I would ride the bus with these two girls and high school students, and I was always so nervous to be around these older kids. As the school year went along, everything was fine, and I hung out with these two girls all the time. I thought we were really good friends. Later on, I started liking this guy, and eventually my friends told me that he liked me, too. They told me that I should write a note to him and tell him how I feel. I was so nervous because I didn't know if he felt the same way, and I was too scared to tell him in person anyways. I took their advice and came up with the courage to write about my feelings. When I finished, my friends told me that they would give him the note. I soon discovered that these so called "friends" of mine were just pulling a cruel joke on me. They took what I said and laughed about it, and I remember right, I think the boy that I liked was in on it, too. Of course, this was almost ten years ago, so I can't say with certainty if he was in on it or not. Regardless, I trusted these girls and I thought they were my friends, but they really weren't. I was just entertainment for them. Also, there was an older girl that came up to me one day while I was at my locker, and she started cussing at me and saying that I was talking about her behind her back. The funny thing was, I didn't even know who this girl was, yet she wanted to kick my ass. I guess someone was just spreading rumors that I was talking about her because they wanted to see something happen to me. Anyways, I just calmly told the girl that I didn't even know her, and that I wasn't saying anything about her, and eventually she just walked away. I don't know what drove these girls to do what they did, but I'm just thankful that I moved after sixth grade because I started a new school and made new friends. I don't think I would be where I am today if it wasn't for moving. If you have "friends" like this, they are not your friends. Don't accept this kind of behavior as friendship, and never let people like this get the best of you. You are better than that. Just stay strong and don't let them see you falter. It will all get better. Trust me.

well I am not in middle school anymore. I seen a lot of kids get bullied. There are bullies that don't know they are bullies. the kids would say they are joking or something. they would call others names and bad words, also other things. I seen a little 6th grade get push down by his friends ( so call friend ). I can say we bully teachers to it is bad. My teacher showed my this movie I cried and was mad at what I seen. Why didn't someone help or do something to help the kids. I took a stand and started a stop bulling club. It was a little late we only had 5 weeks left. Kids came. told them how to take a stay. I was a little sad cuz I did not mean to bully my brother I did not mean to. I told everyone I bully my brothers because of there weight. My little bro cried I was really sorry and I told him. then next day I got sick and when I got back one of the teachers bullied me by yelling at me. Then he asked me what my parents did to me when they heard that I made my brother cry. I told him they made me said sorry. then he said that's not fair you should have going a punishment. then I said had to write a note about the things I like about him and told him I love him. I stopped bullying and taking a stand.

Veronica west

My "best friend" started to bully me in 7th grade, she turned all of my friends against me through lies and I only had one friend for a week. I got dirty looks all day during school. it finally died down after a week. my best guy friend greeted me at school with "f*** you, and f***off" when I got to school...I cried myself to sleep and cried when I got home. I thought things weren't going to get better. but eventually they did. months later, a different best guy friend freaked out on me, and called me a suicidal, ugly, fat, bitch, the list goes on. it was horrible, I cried and cried until I felt that there wasn't any tears left. I now have really bad trust issues, and can only trust four people now. I'm an outcast and often feel alone...I only have a few, but close friends.

I am currently in the 11th grade, but when I was in middle school I was always the target for bullying. All 3 years. I was also a bully, I had no way of letting my anger out so I did what was done to me. One time on the bus, a kid was making jokes about people. He said "You're so ugly you make that girl look pretty!" and of course that girl was me. I was so embarrassed. Everyone laughed, and from that point on everything I did was critized and made fun of. I had plenty of friends and the bullies didn't really get to me. After watching bully, all my anger and fustration was let out. I wouldn't consider myself popular now in high school, but I don't start drama and I often stand up to bullying. It always amazes me to see how immature some people can be. I have had suicidal thoughts before but I NEVER EVER dared to attempt it. I have so much going for me. I know my worth, I know that killing myself would be devastating. Not only for me but for my friends and family. -Mykel Ferguson

I would walk into school with out having a care in the world hoping that those guys and that girl would keep their mouths shut. Yet, it never happened. School was school I would just brush it off as usual. The worst part was when I had to get on the bus after school. Guys would say rude stuff like your a whore or a slut but I never said anything to my parents because I knew the school would do nothing. At first I did nothing but as time went on I would say stuff and then it got to the point where I would hit them. I'm not saying that you should hit people when they make you mad you should hit them but I think you should hit people but I am saying you should stand up for yourself.it hurts so don't do it people.