In 4th through 8th grade, I was verbally bullied by other students, but the worst of it came from teachers in high school. I went to a small, all girls catholic high school. There were two things about me that they felt the need to ridicule: the fact that I am an atheist and the fact that I am "not very lady-like", as they put it.

I've always been an open person, so when someone would ask me, teacher or peer, I would tell them what I think. One of the hardest moments in those four years was when my 12th grade theology teacher pointed that I was an atheist to the entire class and then proceeded to tell them that atheists are worse than murderers and they deserved worse than a murderer. Her reasoning was that a murderer can pray for forgiveness from god, but god would never forgive an atheist. By the time this happened, I was used to teachers taking indirect jabs at me, but this, something so direct and so cold, caught me completely off guard. Who tells someone so young that they are essentially a plague on society and that murderers deserve better than they do? I reported her to the school's administration, but nothing was done. I am grateful that I was nearly 18 at this point and far past the point where I took anything from them too seriously. I am grateful that this didn't happen when I was younger and more reliant on their opinions for emotional validation. I hope that she never says this or anything else hurtful to another student.

I just finished watching "Bully". I cried like I was at the funerals of those poor children. They didn't deserve to die, and neither does anyone else. The film hit me really hard. I remember being about 16, finding it really hard to think of a reason to keep going. I was fortunate enough to have friends that stood up for me. I can never fully express how grateful I am to them for that.

I have three really close friends that have attempted suicide at one point or another in their lives, before I met them. These three friends are the most wonderful friends, anyone could ever ask for, and I am so glad that their attempts to take their own lives failed. They deserve so much better and I make sure to regularly tell them, and everyone else that I love, how much they really mean to me. I know what it is like to feel worthless, and I believe that no one on Earth is worthless. When I think about my friends' failed suicide attempts, I often wonder how many other wonderful people I will never get to know because they succeeded in killing themselves.

Many adults often say that some kids are going to bully other kids and that there's nothing really that can be done about it. This is not true. I think that children who bully others need to be held accountable for their actions. It needs to be pointed out to them just how harmful their actions are to their victims. While I know that it is often hard to get a child to do what they are told, bullies, especially repeat offenders, need to be punished by both the school and the parents/guardians. It is not the victims fault that they are being bullied, so those children that do not obey the rules, despite multiple warnings, should be removed from the schools and placed into schools where stricter disciplinary rules are in place. School should be a place where children can learn in a both physically and emotionally safe environment, not a place where they are told by others that they are worthless and have no reason to live.

I wish that I could shout out for everyone, especially every child, to hear that they are beautiful people and that things can and will get better. I want to tell them that they are loved, even if it doesn't feel like it, and that they are not alone.

When I was in primary school, kids around me quickly realised that I was the one to bully. I'm sure most of them did this because it meant that they themselves would not be bullied. I was autistic and people didn't understand and even some adults did not beleive that a girl could be autistic. I was smart and misdiagnosed with Adhd. (I have Aspergers). Anyway, I began to binge eat in order to cope.  I was then bullied for being fat.

In high school I found it hard to make friends and became alienated and secluded. Half the girls in my year and many boys because of my size would trip me up and push me and so on. The names continued and got worse.

I told the teachers. They told me to ignore it. After a while, the teachers ignored me.

I started cutting. I do not recommend it.

when I went to college, I had a fear of people. For my first two years I would hide at lunch and avoid people. People who, at the time, may have been trying to be my friends. I was so scared of being hurt, I wanted to be alone, ignored and away from everything.

The bullying ended with high school but the hurt does not go away. There are times when I am told "grow up", "it's in the past", "stop thinking about it," "When was the last time that happened,". It doesn't matter how many times you cry, no matter how many times you try to close yourself off. It still hurts.

I am 21 years old. I haven't been bullied since I was 18 years old. I suffer from a binge eating/ bulimia disorder, anxiety and paranoia. I also have autism and find it awkward in certain social situations. I'm still afraid of large groups of people, children under 13 and teachers. Think about it. Is this right?

No-one should have to live with this guilt. The feeling that I deserved it, that I only put this upon myself.

Do you want to perpetuate this? Stop bullying, before it stops you.

I have never in my own experience been properly bullied because in my school it's not a very recurring theme. I did not realise the gravity of bullying in american public schools as I am foreign and go to private school. But while watching the movie "Bully" yesterday and crying insanely, I found out that this is not something to be taken lightly. I was especially moved by the boy who was born too early, (can't remember his name) who had a loving family, but a mother who didn't know how to control the bullying of her child. I thought bullying was only about violence, but I see now that in reality, kids can be scarred for life from what their classmates have threatened to do to them, like punch, beat up, or even *insert swear word here :)* kill them. I want to take a stand against bullying, make friends with those who don't have friends, and finally put an end to the horrible things that go on around american schools. I hope many people will join me.

*I live in germany so don't be suprised of my grammar errors *

I start beeing bullied at the 2 grade , because i don't wan't to follow the majority. I've had my own view of everything and was good in the school .

All my friends get also bullied because they hang out with me , so they also go away from me.But I was getting stronger , stop to cry everyday....stop feeling something.

*In germany you get after the 4 grade in a school* (like in usa high school)

First I was also in the school not popular but you know what? I was getting friends who stands by my side because I say what I wan't and what others say does not affect me. Now everybody respects me I'm lucky llike always because I don't motherfuc*ing care others think ;)

HI :)

I been bullied every since 1st grade Because of my weight and  how I talk. I got into a fight with a girl that made fun of me . Her and friends would gather in a circle around me throwing rocks at me telling me to go back where I came from. The teachers didn't stop them. second grade , same i stuff happen. In third grade I moved. I thought things will get better but it didn't. I would get called four eyes , ugly , fat ,and lots of hurtful stuff. It affected me and my grades so my mum held me back . i would get called stupid retarded and Then forth grade came .i moved again Cause my mum got kick out of sky steps dads . He would beat her. Fourth grade was when I grew up started my period earlier and grow a lot then others girls.I got depressed . when fifth grade came I i started my Facebook I would talk to the old  guys and then I got rape .and that guy  took pictures of me and put online on facebook. I got called slut whore fat stupid.my depression got worst. I started to do drugs and drink Wen 6th grade came. Then custard ed to cut myself. I moved again and got worst at that school got called emo, druggie on first day of seventh grade . I wanted to die .i tried alot of times but couldn't cause I love my mum and little brother so much. Till one day I hanged myself my mum saved my life. She got me help . She tried everything. I got better slowly. I quiet doing drugs and drink then I stop cutting slowly .then I got back into school. It was not fun but I wenI in there and didn't care ..til I got depress and had long beautiful hair I cutted it all off I felt relieved and well the next day I came in with a smile people putted me down but I stood strong I got back up cause my mum helped me ..and I got to know people and meet my true friends. Without them I wouldn't be here. Thanks you everyone who was there for me:)

In 5th grade i was really tomboyish. I thought that maybe boys would like me more. But, they didn't. So this year I'm pretty girly. Boys compliment me, but i feel weird. Sometimes it feels like harassment. There is one boy who always slaps my butt, he is pervertive, and not really that nice. I decided to do something about it. I told my mom, she called the school. He stopped, i was happy. Then some girls started to bully me about who i was dating because he was a different race! I was so mad, i mean it is so wrong! The only people who supported me was my closest friends. Everyone else left my side. People would ask " so i hear u like niggas" i cry because i really like him, he treats me right and respects me. I feel bad about myself a lot when i get called ugly, fat, stupid, and a dumbass. when i get called these names i just feel like dying, but I've finally tried to let go of those thoughts. But some still stick in my brain, just hanging by a thread. But they never say or do anything. Some days i wish they would do something,sometimes i wish they break off the threas and just leave my head.   

Elementary through senior year of high school I was bullied. Not physically but mental and emotionally. I was put down, called names, and even threatened. I was bullied because I was who I was. I was bullied because I stood up for those who didn't have the strength to stand up for themselves. senior year of high school was when I had enough. I took it passed the school. However it got worse and nothing really helped. Going to court didn't really help. I missed 70% of my senior year. And graduation was suposed to the best day of my life but it ended up being a bad memory because everyone's stood up and cheered for the bully because they felt like he was the victim. I turned out to be the girl the whole town didn't want to be around because I stood up to those cheerleaders, football stars and wrestlers. People who I grew up with wouldn't even look at me. I developed bad anxiety, flashbacks and depression. Here I am today a college student going to school to become a fire fighter/EMT, I am now moved out and on my own. I made the choice to leave the town that put me through misery. Yes, I still see those people every once in a while but I keep my head up and smile as big as I can because I am strong. 

When I was a little girl, I didn't worry about how I looked or what I wore to school each day. All I worried about was having fun and being a kid. Between Pre-K and 2nd grade, I was not bullied. In fact, in those grades I could have been considered friends with just about everyone. Everything changed for me when I was in 3rd grade, though. It all went downhill from then on. For that year, I spent it with my father who lived in Missouri. During that year, I started gaining weight noticeably, but I wasn't outright fat. The main indecent of bullying I had experienced in 3rd grade, was probably on my way home from school one day. I had 2 best friends and we rode our bikes every day to and from school. On one particular day, we left with a group of kids, about 5-8 kids total. I had decided to take a 'shortcut' and wait for them by myself. Little did I know, however, was that I had about 4 kids waiting for me to do so. When I got to the end of the street to wait, they ambushed me. One boy blocked me from peddling off, and the other 3 - 2 girls and 1 boy- said some.. unpleasant things to me. They began beating me with their backpacks after that. I started crying as hard as I probably could, and they continued taunting me. I felt so helpless, because no one was around. This went on for 10 minutes before the group of kids we all left with came to the scene. One of the high schoolers spoke out for me and made them stop. They all comforted me, but I'll never forget how humiliated and defeated I felt. 

4th grade went by smoothly enough and I made wonderful friends. We moved to Oklahoma when I was getting ready for 5th grade, and after that everything changed again. By time 7th grade came around, I couldn't take it anymore, since it was the lowest point in my life. Today, I am ashamed to admit that I almost took my life in 7th grade. Not a day went by back then that I didn't feel like committing suicide to end it all. I am ashamed to say I wrote a suicide note, ashamed to live with that as a fact. I managed overcoming it though. Once 8th grade came by, things got easier. I wasn't as down as I was the year previous and I wasn't as bullied either, though it was still existent. 9th grade was also nice, but it wasn't a walk in the park either. Ever since 6th grade, I have been bullied for being over weight. Constantly mocked, laughed at, and teased. It isn't entirely my fault for being this way though. I was diagnosed with a thyroid problem two years ago. I have been made fun of, for something I cannot even control, because no one would understand. No one has ever understood. When my 10th grade year started, I decided I was going to save myself from another year of Hell and mental distress. I asked my mom to put me through online schooling. In a way, I was giving up, yes. In my eyes though, I am winning, because I am much happier than I was all those years of being the victim. I'm no longer continuously snickered at and teased for being over weight, nor am I talked about behind my back or to my face about being different for not dressing like other people and having lip piercings. I no longer have to go to public school every single day, fearing getting bullied by those who weren't willing to understand me. I still and always will have my friends, and they have helped me through these past 6 years, overcoming the hardships I face. No matter what anyone says to me, I have not given up. I have simply survived.

In elementary school I was a bully. And on numerous accounts I bullied my current boyfriend who is three years older than me. I also bullied a girl who I thought just looked odd. I didn't realize exactly what I was doing and that I was hurting more people than I had intended. I didn't honestly think on it until this past year when I turned 16. I and my boyfriend have known each other, actually known each other, for five years. I didn't realize it was him I bullied back in elementary school until he described an evil little girl who convinced all the other kids that he was weird. I cried when he described the day they beat him up on the playground. I cried for everything I did. The other girl I bullied, she became an outcast. She stopped associating with everyone because she thought no one wanted to be friends with someone like her because of how I treated her in elementary school. I wasn't much better when I reached middle school. In 6th grade I was the person that got my current boyfriend shoved into a gym locker, I was the one that got a girls head slamed into another locker, and I was the one that separated everyone. I can't change what I did back then, how I wish I could, but I can say that I'm sorry for all the lives I ruined. I'm sorry that my fun caused despair. I'm sorry that I thought that was fun. I was a sick and twisted child. I can't express how sorry I am in meer words. I can only rectify my actions by making sure that if it happens again the victim, and even the bully, will have someone to go and talk to. Even the bully has psychological problems. I wasn't a bully until my dad left my mom, it's no excuse but I wanted people to feel as bad as I did. I wanted them to understand my pain. I hated everyone and everything until I really met the boy who's life I ruined and fell in love with him. He made me who I am today and when I realized that it was I who made his life a living hell I cried an earth shattering, heart breaking, cleansing cry. The kind of cry that tugs on your heart and cleanses your soul. I cried for the lives I ruined, for my life that had been wasted, and for the souls and hearts that I damaged in my rampage.