You see in movies and TV shows the kid that's the outsider. The kid that gets their head in the toilet, the kid that is shoved into a locker. I was that kid. On a daily basis, I dealt with people treating me like I was less than human. I even started to believe it myself. 

I reached a point where I no longer even felt safe in my own body. 

My mom is a teacher. I have always been in the gifted program. I was small for my age. I had glasses and untidy hair. I was in band, I liked math, and I used words that no one else understood. But the biggest difference between me and the other kids, was that I am gay. 

My peers realized this before I did. Whether it was conscious thought, or pure instinct, they knew I was different. And they reminded me incessantly. 

I reached a point, in the 8th grade, where I did some things that I sorely regret. I turned to substances, to self-harm, to total self degradation. Finally, I overdid it and had to tell my parents.

Realizing that the school would do nothing (for example, the school cop pulled me out of lockers I had been shut in more than once and didn't even tell the principal), my parents decided to rearrange their plans. They found a charter school. Amy Biehl Charter High School changed my life. It saved my life. 

It took me two more years to realize that I was only interested in women. It took another year after that to understand that I don't identify with a specific gender. 

I have a younger brother. He has gotten taller than me, but people still think we are twins sometimes, even though he is 3 years younger. He is a lot like me. He is incredibly smart. 

When he entered middle school, he started to go through a similar circumstance as mine. Most of his abuse was verbal, or they would steal his things, while my abuse was physical, but the difference does not matter. We felt the same way. 

As I was coming out to my friends, my family, I realized how important being out was. Not just being out as gay, but being out as a Harry Potter fan, being out as a math whiz, being out as different. I felt like I had to protect my brother.

After my experience, I never, ever want to see anyone go through the same thing. When I watched Bully, I shook. With anger, with sorrow, with fear. Because it was like reliving my experience. 

I have discovered that the only way that I am comfortable handling this, is by sticking up for those that have nobody else in their corner. I had no one, so I want to be the one that makes the difference. The best way that I know how to do this is to be as loud about who I am as I can. How will people learn that treating people like that is unacceptable, if we don't show them that difference is a good thing? It is imperative to be the change that you want to see in the world, and I want to see everyone as loud about who they are as they can be, with no consequences for it. 

I taught P.E. for 17 years.  I told my students at the beginning of the year, if I caught them picking on someone in class, in the locker room or within my ear range, they would not be allowed to participate.  Throughout the year I found at least one thing each child could do well and NO ONE was bullied.

Second part of story:  I raised three children of my own.  I told them if I ever heard of someone being bullied and they didn't step in, they would be in trouble with me.  My children are all grown now, but I still have parents and students who tell me what a difference they made.

Let's teach children compassion for one another; it will make a better world!

In middle school, I was bullied. I was a lot like Alex in a way that I allowed myself to be picked on. I convinced myself it was a joke. They were just playing. It's what friends do. Wrong. I've had scissors thrown at me. I was pushed and pinned onto walls. I've had frisbees thrown at my head in P.E. I was bullied by teachers and other figures of authority as well. 

Coming into high school, I took it upon myself to stand my ground. I conquered the bullies and showed them that I will not be bullied. I will not be broken down. I will not be a punching bag. I'm a human being that deserves respect and respect is exactly what I got.

Just watched the movie "Bully" and it reminded me of this one time I witnessed someone being bullied and I tried to stop it. I was friends with someone who wasn't very nice, but this person was popular, so of course, the fact that said person liked me and wanted to be my friend had me willing to do anything for her. One day at recess we were all standing in a group when we saw this girl walk by. I knew this girl to be an outcast made bitter by constant teasing, but nice if you approached her carefully. Anyways, my "friend" looked at the four or five of us and with a new spark in her eyes said, "Come on." And she turned and led us to where the girl was standing alone. I had a bad feeling that this wasn't going to be good and I stayed a little back from the others. I can't quite remember what was specifically said to this girl, but I know it was not nice. Finally, I said "_____, stop." She turned around and looked at me like I was insane. "What? Are you siding with her?" I shrugged,  not knowing how to stand up to her more than I already did. She gave me that horrible look again but walked off and let the other girl be. I continued to be friends with her after this and never once talked to the bullied girl. Now I wish I could go back and do more for this girl. I don't know what happened to her, or where she is now. I don't know if my friend continued to bully people because I drifted away from her towards the end of the year. I wish I would've had the courage to make more of a stand than I did. Bullying is a huge problem in all schools and it needs to be stopped. If you are witnessing someone being bullied, imagine yourself in their position. How would you feel is no one tried to help you? So be the person to help these victims. Make a difference in their lives.

My sister is now 18 years old but she has suffered some bulling in the last year due to the fact that my sister has come out as part of the gay community. My family supports her greatly but there have been some issues at school with a teacher who has made it clear as day that he is greatly against her and her sexual preferences. Her closes friend who once supported her has been corrupted by another and has turned against her. There was actually one point in time where this teacher came up to one of my sisters close friend and ask if she would like to file a complaint against my sister for sexual harassment but how my sister treats and acts around her friends has not changed at all from before and after she has came out. She has made strides to avoid this teacher and with two weeks of school left in her senior year she has taken a stand against this teacher. 

You're beautiful. 

You're amazing.

You're worth it.

Don't do it. I care. We all do. 

You CAN get through this.

I have ALWAYS been a social butterfly. Normally I get along with everyone and I don't really have trouble making friends. I was bullied my fair share around 4th and 5th grade by these girls on the bus. They made fun of me; calling me names, pulling my hair, and saying just hurtful things that no 9-12 year old should hear. I told my mom and she threatened to go to the school, but who wants to be the kid who's mom fight their battles for them? It got to the point where I stooped down to their level. I began saying mean things back and "giving them the bird" until one day the bus driver told me if I did that, I was just as bad as them. The next day, the kids tried to say something to me and I stood up for myself. I told them to leave me alone. And not to pick on me anymore. And if they did, they wouldn't like what was coming back to them. Because I wouldn't do anything, but you know who would? God. They left me alone after that. And I was relieved. I thought the bullying was over. Until I was in 8th grade when I moved back to the town. Which was when I told everyone I was a girl. Dating a girl. I knew people were going to treat me differently. I went from the girl that always smiled to "the gay girl". At first I said, it's only a one time thing! It wont ever happen again, and they got SOME people to understand. But that didn't stop the bullying. It got so bad that I attempted suicide.  I have bad depression to this day. And I still remember how bad it got. I don't date that girl anymore. And people still say things and whisper sometimes. But I realized something within two years. People will always talk. God loves you no matter what. And you can't control what other's say, but you can control how you react. You just have to stay positive and not let it effect you. I know some people are not strong enough to do that, which is why I think I am here. To be a friend. To help. And to love anyone who confides or needs someone unconditionally. I am here for you. I will listen. I care. 

"I wish you would have died at birth" This girl was always picking on me. I was an easy target. I was quiet, shorter than everyone, and a new kid at the school. Vulnerable. People would stand there and laugh even my friends. Eventually someone told the teacher and I realized I wasn't going to take bullying anymore. Now when people are being bullied I stand up! My friend is big for her age and when someone makes fun of her I say something. It feels nice to not let the bullying keep going!

I have been bullied for 5 years.. I am still being bullied.

Last year I started 6th grade. All my friends had boyfriends. Its seemed like everyone did, so I decided to get one. We dated through December through April. One day we decided to go for a walk. That's when everything in my life had changed.

We had been in a flied laying down next to each other talking. At first we were holding hands, then the next thing I knew one hand was up my shirt and the other down my pants! I didn't know what was going on so I just let it happen. 

About 2 weeks later I told a teacher what had happened. She told the principle what I told her. Everything got out of control right there. The cops came in and asked me and him questions. After the cops left he told everyone that I raped him.

After that everyone thinks I'm a rapist.

Its been about a year and people still say stuff. They say I hide little kids in my closet and I rape them when ever or boys in the hallways will push me in lockers and hand me money asking " Is this how much they pay these days?"

I don't know why they do this! I never did anything to them! I still am scared to got to school with him!! I'm afraid of what will happen.. But I fight trough it everyday trying to get over it.

If this has happened to you don't keep it in. Tell someone who will do something about it. This is a very serious thing!