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Ever sense I was in the 3rd grade I've always been bullied. "Oh, she's fat and ugly." This is what I heard constantly. As middle school arrived it got worst. In 6th grade I had no friends and didn't fit in. The only thing I would be okay with was my 3rd hour because I got an amazing teacher. Eventually, me and my family had to move to Florida. Things went down after that. I went to a new school and still didn't fit in. I would always hear people say stuff about me saying so many things. I started acting different and not caring in school and was bossy. The next year was 8th grade and I got accepted into a charter school. Nothing good happened there. people hated me for no reason. I was being called names and still left with no friends. Recently a important person tried to commit Suicide. that's when I knew it was time to stick up For myself. so far all I can say, is it gets better. don't be scared to stick up. Ask someone. It could possibly save you, or another's life.

I always had a lot of friends growing up. I had to have people around me and people to talk to all the time in order to feel safe and loved. When I was in the 8th grade at a private Christian school, I was friends with all of the cheerleaders and more "popular" kids. I considered myself well-liked and popular as well. One day, a boy who was supposedly my friend told me that "nobody liked me", "nobody would or could ever love me", and that "everyone would be better off if I was dead." These words killed me. The worst part was that when I went to my best friends about what the boy had said, they didn't stand up for me. This made me believe these words even more. I developed a very deep depression and an anxiety disorder. I thought about suicide but never attempted it. I transferred schools in the middle of my 9th grade year and things definitely improved after that. I just had to get away. However, I am now in my first year of college and the scars from all the pain and hurt I experienced in my middle school years are still there. I still have intense anxiety issues and it is harder for me to trust the true friends that I have for fear of being shunned or let down once again. I will always take a stand for people being bullied. Bullying can be physical, mental, emotional, or verbal. And the words can be just as bad as the actions.

I was fortunate enough to not be bullied.  I am the youngest of 5 children and I am so lucky that I had 2 brothers and 2 sisters that looked out for me.  Because of them I was able to go through school without being afraid of bullies.  Thank you to my siblings.

My sister on the other hand was not.  We were home schooled for about 5 years and then one year the parents decided to put us into a local christian school.  The first few months went well.  My sister and I made friends and played on the volleyball team.  We knew some of the girls from church so it wasn't like we were completely "new".  About halfway through  the 2nd year there something changed dramatically for my sister.  She was the pretty, tall, thin, blonde hair, blue eyes girl that all girls are threatened by.  The boys all liked her and she of course loved the attention.  The other popular pretty girls did not.  So they then took it upon themselves to make her life a living hell.  Surprise, surprise.  The girls began to make up rumors and call her names and gossip about her behind her back.  My sister took all personally.  Long story short, because of bullying my sister dropped out of high school.  It makes me so angry that nothing was done by the school board, principal or teachers or event he pastor of the church. 

On a positive note, my sister has grown up to be one  of the strongest people I know. 

I've never been bullied and I've never been bullying anybody. That's something I'll never ever do. The reason that I wanted to share my experiences, or rather thoughts, is because I get so touched from everything that I read, watch and hear about bullying. The ironic thing is that we all see bullying or teasing sometimes, or often, in our lives. In school for instance. People who don't "fit in" in our stupid ideals, people that dares to be different or people that just are new usually are the victims. We aren't stupid, we know that bullying exists and that it is common, but it is when you see a documentary like "Bully" that you really get food for thought, especially if bullying isn't anything you see everyday in school, for instance. Now when I've seen this documentary and read some of your stories, I really feel like I want to make a difference. Those kind of things really motivates and touches me, I feel such an empathy for those of you that goes through this, even though I haven't went through it myself. All I can say is that I really hate how awful we humans can be. It disgusts me that we can give people scars for life without any sensible reasons.

I really admire you strong, beautiful people that make it through the hard days. I really hope that you all get support by somebody, or something, that makes life worth living and that motivates you to stand up against those denial teachers and awful students.

I never really understood the expression to fight fire with fire. To fight a destructive force with its own terrible properties can only lead to the inevitable outcome that you will only spread they despair rather than extinguish it. When it comes to bullying we as a society need to approach the problem with solutions that will benefit everyone. Bullying is a widespread issue that has affected everyone. What is most commonly ignored is somehow or someway even the bully is being bullied. So by attacking the bully you only strengthen their resolve to find more hurtful ways to vent. We need to fight this fire with water. the water of understanding, collective support and one voice to help all children through this. I know this is a pipe dream but it starts with letting your voice be heard. I wasnt a bully. In high school I was considered a jock and growing up in the public school system bullying was rampant. I couldnt stand for this. to watch a helpless person be ridiculed and beat. I stood up for those people. But i went beyond that. i made them my friends. invited them to social gatherings. accepted them for who they were. As a result, I now play chess at a near master level. I know many computer languages, i have a passion for the sciences, i know the ins and outs of a car, i can lay carpet with the best of them and i have gained the most faithful, lifelong friends i could ever ask for. Before i was just a jock, now im a well rounded human being who has gained a family of amazing friends who will support me through anything, and i will protect them through any situation. More people need to stand up for those less fortunate and even learn to understand those who bully, because odds are they are being bullied as well. Lets stop fighting fire with fire, never wish the pain they have given to others back on them and lets start fighting for those who cant fight for themselves.

Bully's dont understand that in the inside they really hurt the other kids that get bullied all the time. im a teenager that can relate in some ways, I never was really bullied in a serious way but the little stuff only and it only happen a few times not a lot but I don't like bully's myself the bullied kids need to know that there's a certain Line which you shouldn't pass they need to know how to defend them selfs if they feel hurt in the inside bullies just need to pick on someone there own size and not a quite kid they always go for weakness or a kid that don't have a lot of popularity in school , adults think kids be lying when they say that ( teachers don't care what happen , principal would only suspend the kid which makes the bully that got suspended would now want revenge from the bullied kid , ) people just need to know this is not a joke kids out there killing them selfs because they think they not good enough , that's all bullies fault ...ps if it was up to me ill whip these kids ass , 

My son is quirky, sensitive, and above all else the sweetest, silliest, most loving little boy you will ever meet.

So when he started coming home from kindergarten angry, in tears and defiant, I could not figure out what was happening.

One night as I was reading with him, he told me a story about a little boy who was choked, punched and hated at school.   He sobbed as he told me the story.  Then he said, "That mean kid is ruining my life."

My heart was broken.  When I realized that this was not just one of his imaginary stories he was telling me. 

This was real.

I have fought along side his teachers everyday to protect my son, but when I felt the teachers could do no more to stop the bully, I sought help from our Principal.   She took notes, acted concerned and promised to call me back with a plan and solution in twenty-four hours.  

Twenty four hours later, she had not called me back.  In fact, she waited more than a week to call me back.  Meanwhile, my son had been shoved, belittled and destroyed on a daily basis.   

The Vice Principal took note of the urgency of this issue when I sat myself down in the school office and told them I was not leaving until the Principal met with me again.   I explained I had all day to wait, because my child is the most important thing in my life.

The principal hid in her office and the Vice Principal met with me and heard my son's story from his own mouth.

She cared.  She helped.   But I am still so saddened that the leader of the school showed such indifference.

It is never okay to be a bully.   Kindergarten bullies get away with a lot because people say they are young, they are still learning how to socialize.   They get endless chances. 

And unfortunately, our fantastic kindergarten teachers are given limited power.   Without parental and administrative support, our teachers are just as alone as our kids.

This is not okay with me.  My son doesn't deserve to be someone's lesson and neither does any other child.  He doesn't deserve to be a punching bag.  He deserves to go to school safe and happy.  

I am a mama bear on a mission.....I am taking a stand now.

And I am inviting my community to follow me.

We must not allow age, race, gender, or any other reason to be an excuse for bullying. 

It is time we change the culture of how we approach bullying.  

I am ready to spark that change!

All throughout school I was bullied and harassed by different groups of kids. In elementary, I was locked inside a classroom and thrown into a glass fish tank. The principal still refused to admit there was a problem. High school was terrible. I came out as gay and was bullied into self harm and multiple suicide attempts. It got so bad I actually refused to leave my house for six months. I spent a year in inpatient treatment to recover from the problems my bullies had caused me (anorexia, depression etc). Bullying is not a joke. It is not a matter of 'kids will be kids'. This is serious. On March 29th 2013 my best friend was told to 'go kill herself'. On March 30th, she did just that. I lost my best friend, the one person I could count on, because of a bully. How many more teenagers do we have to lose before people realize this is serious? I'm sixteen now, and have been dealing with this for 11 years. It's time to take a stand. This is life or death. 

All though out my childhood, elementary, middle, and high school, I was teased and bullied. Words hurt more than you think, let alone actions as well. I was the fat kid in the class. The shy fat girl who avoided everyone. Why did I avoid everyone? Because I grew up in a society where being plump is disgusting, a sin, horrible, outrageous! Everyone I met that actually gave me the benefit of the doubt will tell you I am the post passionate, kindest, gentle girl you would ever meet. But at first look, to those who are bullies, they saw me as a big red target. I was picked on so much. I was called fat, chubby, tubby, the boys would stick out their bellies and tease me, I would get my seats kicked in the back of classes, laughs and giggles thrown my way, stares, disgusting stares. Elementary school was horrible! It just got worse as time flew by. Middle school: Horrible. I would get little paper notes saying they like chunky girls and want to do horrible things to me, and to meet them in certain places to just make fun of me for believing it. Though I never did, they still laughed at me. In group projects, if I would just even glance over at a bully, they would look at me and laugh and start yelling WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT CHUNKY! I would get physically abused as well, not just verbally. That is where it all started... I became a cutter then. I had to get stitches I cut so deep once from their mean words. Highschool: My mother started going in and out of the hospital, my grandmother passed away, I was living alone with no one here, diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and had no one other than the handful of friends I had, which was not much. So you can only imagine the hurt I would feel. Freshmen year was the worst. And due to all this, I put on even more weight, and that got even more attention on my part. It gets even better. Not only were kids at school being the bullies, so was my own family, my own grandfather, letting me know what a piece of worm poo I was, and reminding me everyday how fat I was and how worthless I am. I have grown to ignore these type of remarks, made new friends, and eventually highschool got better after sophomore year. Now I am turning 20 and going to college. With help and support from loved ones and friends, you can make it. Just like I have and still am. It is going to hurt sometimes, but you are not alone.