My name is Kevin. I am 30 years old and live in Brooklyn NY. I was born with medical difficulties (mostly cosmetic). Throughout my school years I was picked on relentlessly. I can particularly remember 3rd grade being the worst year ever. I was locked in a closet and beat up by about 6 or 7 kids. I can still remember each of their names. I hated life, I hated people, but I treasured those who I WAS friends with. No one knew about the 3rd grade bullying until after the school year was over. My mom found a big nasty bruise on my butt from where I was kicked over and over. My father and mother always told me to walk away. Instead I wouldn't, but wouldn't fight back either. I would cry, and act out, and scream at anyone who would listen. No one did though. I was different from those kids. I had a very active imagination, and was very vocal with my imagination. 

The bullying didn't stop there. It continued through High School. Finally I started fighting back and the bullying let up. It didn't end but it let up. I continue to deal with bullies. That's a sad state of affairs that I'm almost 30 and still people pick on me, why? Because they know it gets to me, is what one "friend" says to me. Being where I am in my life I can honestly say it doesn't bother me anymore.

While I may still deal with the occasional bully, I have learned how to deal with it. I won't beat around the bush and say you will learn to get over it. Truth is, it WILL stay with you. What I can't express enough is learning how to turn that negative into a positive. For me, to do that, I write. I self published a novel that I wrote. Although the grammar isn't immaculate the story (in my opinion...I may be a bit biased) is pretty solid. 

Our biggest feat in fighting bullying isn't trying to stop it, or having bully law reform. Yes it is 100% needed. It is teaching our kids, the next generation, to turn negatives into positives. Give them something that makes the known not as bully victims but as writers, athletes, filmmakers. My goal as an advocate is to do that. My story I hope will inspire these kids, these victims, to shoot for their dreams and for them to know that their are people pulling for them to do that. 

You won't ever forget being a bullying victim. Anyone telling you that isn't being realistic. You can however show these bullies that their efforts to shoot you down, to hurt you, to make you feel worthless, have had not interfered with your dreams. Show them that their efforts have not hindered you're ability to be awesome. Make no mistake either folks, you are all awesome.

THANK YOU!

Kevin Wilson

Brooklyn NY Age 30

In third grade, I wasn't bullied by other students; I was bullied by my teacher. Her and I would get into screaming matching almost every day. I was constantly sent to the vice principal's office and I often hid in the bathroom to avoid being mocked by my peers for "yelling too much." She called my house every Friday night, drunk, and told my father exaggerated or entirely fabricated stories about what I had done that week worthy of her punishment. She even sent my mother a nine-page, handwritten hate letter in the mail to my mother. This went on for the entire school year. The vice principal recommended I "don't come in for the last two days of school." I had to transfer from private school to public school. Fortunately, the teacher was fired immediately after I transferred out. Turns out she has bipolar disorder which she hadn't been treating at the time. 

In fourth grade, I started at Albany Avenue Elementary School. I was often bullied and ostracized because I was a "weirdo." There was a clique of five girls that could have been taken straight out of Mean Girls; they pretended to be my friend just long enough so I would believe it and go along with ridiculous things that they made me believe was cool to be doing in their group. Unsurprisingly, the teachers did nothing about it. Even when my father died in the middle of the school year, the bullying didn't stop, even for a day. 

In middle school, I was often teased for trying to hard to fit in with the "emo"crowd and was often called a "poser" by classmates. I tried way too hard to be exactly like another girl in my class who I thought was cool. Nobody accepted me for who I was, so I thought acting like her would make me as cool as her. Instead, people just called me a freak and a wannabe. One kid would make crow noises at me every time he saw in the hallway because I wore black. Eventually, I grew into my own sometime during middle school and the bullying stopped.

All through high school, I saw bullying going on every day. Maybe not the "coming home with blood on your face" kind, but there was a lot of psychological taunting going on anywhere you looked. Just sly enough that a student technically couldn't get in trouble for it, but the undertones of what he or she was saying was quite clear.

To anyone being bullied, this is for you: Do not let these awful people ruin your lives. You are better than those bullies, and you are better than what they do to you. I can guarantee that there is at least one person in this world that loves you from the very bottom of their heart. Love can overpower hate if you remember that it's there. Hell, some bullies may feel just as lonely and sad and lost as you do. Try to spread love to everyone around you instead of taking those bullies' crap. Even if you have to fake it, show them how happy you really are and that you're not phased by them. Inner peace is like rat poison to a bully. If you take anything from this, please remember you are loved.

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost

When i was in 3 grade girls picked on me, but i never said anything i thought they were playing. But over the years it got worse worse, it got to the point that i didn't want to go to school any mour. I would fake beng sick just to come home. It got so bad i didn't say anything, intill a girl held me up agenst a wall by my throte. I told my friend and he told an adult. I still dont regret telling that ! person.Even if it was in 5th grade and now im in 7th.

My friend is bullied everyday by kids I talk to everyday. Him a do have drifted in the past but we've been best friends since sixth grade. I don't know how to confront his bullies but it is only verbal abuse. Knowing that he would do the same for me, I want to know how to help him

  My child has definitely been targeted at times.  It's of paramount importance that we work together against this onslaught.  We are truly at war with outdated policies,  uninterested or uncaring parents and faculty,  & even those who turn a blind eye because of politics or even "social rankings". I'm glad to have found a starting point for a way to get involved.  Thanks to the parents,  children,  & filmmakers for bringing this to the nation's attention. 

My bulliyn story began in the midle school, when I was an inocent kid I just play with the girls, runing, kiding but with the boys no is just like any inxtinct, and the bulliyng begun here with "you are gay" know I am in 6 grade and I accept me I am gay I am a pride gay oh his self a person how any person can fall down!!

Society is all messed up.  Its bar coding us all to this messed up image .

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My bullying experience began in middle school, as most do.  I was a skinny, nerdy, and highly intelligent boy who went to the rougher school in the entire area.  My bullying exceeded the normal name calling and and recess fights.  It escalated to having my head shoved in toilet, being threatened with rape from a 16 year old in the 6th grade, and being repeatedly threatened by groups to be stabbed.  I contemplated killing myself almost everyday, but never did because all I could vision was my Mom and Dad.  I fought through it.  The emotional scars stay with me today as a 36 year old man, making me unable to trust of people, anxious in crowds, and plain out paranoid that everyone is out to get me.  I eventually decided one day, in college, to turn my emotions into fuel.  I began lifting weights, self training myself in boxing, and doing long distance runs.  I transformed my body, my mind, and my spirit.  The weak and sad little boy today is now a Vice President for a bank, has completed half marathons, and is a proud Father, Husband, and survivor.  Never give up the fight and never surrender.  Strength is acquired from endurance.  I am proof.  I will always stand against bullying and do everything to make those bullied heard.

hi my name is melina  at school this kid started to say i was poor and told everybody and i told him to stop and he did this kid started to call me a witch i told him to stop but he didnt so i told the teacher then he stop being a big meanie

             The day I came out to everyone was the scariest and most amazing day of my life. I was so happy that I was finally open with who I was. I was me and it seemed like nothing could stand in the way of that. But of course, there was. I was openly lesbian and proud of who I was(and I still am). People at school scream dike in the halls near my and point and yell "ew gross when ever I would talk to my friends whom were girls. I ignored it all and let it go assuming that some day they would grow up and and maybe karma would even jump out at them and bite them in the rear end, but then i saw a girl near my locker get called a "nasty lesbo dike" and then they slapped her in the face and ran off. I ran to her not even knowing who it was but when I got closer I realized it was a very close friend of mine. She had been sticking up for me after seeing other students writing hurtful thing on my locker. We went to the principle of our school and explained what happened he just said "Well I grew up in a different time I don't understand it and I don't agree with it, I'm sorry I can't really help you." So we left and the bullying continued until I spoke with my favorite teacher. She helped me to stick up for myself and others. She is one of the most amazing teachers ever and she is the reason why I stand against bullying today!