Hi, my name is Carly. I am 14 (turning 15 in May) and I am Bisexual. I have been bullied in 7th and 8th grade, but not as much this year, which is great. In 7th grade, i was called names and verbally bullied. In 8th grade i was still mostly verbally bullied and being laughed at because i would always wear my hair short like a boy or dress funny or be...different. I just liked doing those things. A small reason why I kept my hair short is because a girl in my grade put gum in my hair. It happened one day in gym class. I had put my sweater on the ground while me and my partner were passing a frisbee and then, when class was over, we went inside to get changed. So, this girl says "Carly, can you put your hood on, I think my friend has the same jacket as you." So, I put it on and she said it was a different jacket. Then, after gym i went to my next class and my friend says i have something in my hair. Turns out, that bully spit her gum out into the hood of my jacket when it was on the ground. You know what happened to her after that? Nothing. No detention or suspension, just a warning. After that she just kept bullying me with her hurtful words and, at the time, I had no friends, no one to stand up for me. So i wrote a note. It wasn't a suicide note, but I was thinking about it....this one girl saw it and showed it to the guidance counselor. I was called down, my mother was brought to the school, and i got a therapist. She said nothing was wrong with me (the therapist) i was just special and unique. That's what they all said. Soon after I just didn't like talking to a complete stranger with my personal problems so I just stopped going. I've had about 4 therapists, in the past 2 years and I've left them all. I really don't like talking to someone I don't know about this like this. I don't really WANT help either. I'd rather just be left alone. 

My name is Isabella, I was bullied at the beginning of kindergarten. My teacher said I was strange. Then once 4th grade came, I came out. I was sent to the counselor because of it, and the counselor told people. I was treated like a disease. I told my principle that I was being bullied, she did nothing of it. I skipped school alot because the depression made me ill. I was in public school up until the 2nd semester of 7th grade. I was expelled from absence and was told I was to be punished because of something I wrote on facebook: "I wish the people at my school would disappear, It would be alot peaceful.". But I was accused of terroristic  threat. They had a huge assembly while I was expelled about being threatened. Now I wonder how is it that you can be physically hurt at school and not get in trouble, but I was expelled and did nothing wrong. I was just bullied.

Hi, my name is Maya. I don't know why I was bullied. I definitely thought about suicide. But I thought I'm not giving up. I'm not going to name names but I will tell the story.

I used to be "friends" with a group of, well, not the nicest people. Truthfully, when they were bullying people. I was afraid if I stood up for  someone I would be bullied. One day enough was enough. I stood up for 1 person, they thought it was like betrayal, and then started bullying me. For 3 whole years I tried. "stop" "Don't" "just leave me alone." Mental bullying, cyber bullying, then finally physical bullying. I told family and teachers. They weren't much help. Everyday my question was "WHY". Until the final year. I stood up for myself and took all of them down 1 by 1 just with my "Silent" voice. Until there was 1 left standing. Their, what students call their ,"Leader". I stood up for me and everyone. I was tired, beaten, and tortured. I was done. So I said " If you want to be mad go punch your pillow because I'm done. I am finished with your 'PLAY FIGHTING'. I'm sick and tired of YOU thinking you can just bully me and everyone else." Then I just walked. Then she said "I'm sorry. Can we be friends." like she did a million times. My final answer "No."

So to all the kids who ask "WHY", Have hope because your strength that you don't now about is waiting for you to use. All you got to do is dig deep and find it. Easier said then done? I know but it's up 2 u 2 make the difference!

Hi, my name is Daniella,  i'm 14. I was bullied since the secondgrade, at first I didn't really understand what bullying was until the 4th grade. The first I got bullied was the 2nd grade when everyone called me fat and made fun of my clothes. All I thought was that they were just being mean but little did I know it was bullying. Then from there it got worse, In the 5th grade everyone started making fun of my weight. Then that’s when I started to feel depressed and insecure, I started to wear clothes to cover up my insecurities, it didn’t work. Sadly from there it got worse, I was then in the 6^th grade judged by my religion, weight and skin color. I tried to ignore it but it wouldn’t, luckily my dad got a new job and I moved schools hoping for a new start in a new school, but again sadly I was wrong. In the 7^th grade I got more depressed and more insecure, then cutting started when I was 13, I ran to the bathroom during class and cut myself. Today now in the 8^th grade though I’ve cut a few times this year, I’m currently doing better and recovering. I hope to get better soon and get rid of my scars. Though I hated when the really mean girls would call me things like: bitch, emo, fat, and fag, those words only made me a stronger person :).

Hi, my name is Eric, I am 24 and mixed with African American, Irish Native American German and Deutsch. I don't really think about it today because its just a part of who I am but when I was younger I was very confused about who I was and kids often took advantage of that. In pre-school I began to notice that I was different because the other children's parents looked the same and the kids would notice that my parents didn't. I would be compared to Asian children because of my complexion. I would be called names even at that age like yellow boy and weirdo. Luckily children's vocabulary isn't very advanced at that age but it still hurt! Even at that age what I found helpful was to make at least 1 friend. I was lucky to have 2 at the time. I moved around a little as i grew older so I would have to start over and make new friends and in middle school it was pretty hard. I would often come in to contact with kids who never met someone of my mixed race. They would make fun of me in their confusion and misunderstanding though back then I didn't see it that way.  They would call me all sorts of names like oreo, milano, choconilla ice cream and many other harmful names Id rather refrain from posting on here. I even got in to a few physical altercations with kids. Most of the time the parents wouldn't help because they felt the same as their kids. I was the only mixed child in the neighborhood. Now that I look back, I wish more could have been done.  But some people will never change and it becomes a viscous circle because they become like their parents and their kids like them. More and more kids suffer in the end because the parents choose to do nothing. I hope more parents educate their kids because it can't all be left up to the school systems.

My name is vivianna. My first time of being bullied was in the 5th grade. I was called names everyday by the people who I thought were my friends. It broke my heart to know that they didn't really like me and they only used me for material things. They called me fat and stupid and if they asked me for something and I didn't give it to them it would be a problem. That went on for 2 years. In the 7th grade when I started a new school I was also bullied. Everyday of every school moment I was called names. And sometimes it even by people I didn't know. I became bulimic and went into depression. I was the suffer in silence type so no one knew. Everyday I would cry becuz I didn't want  to go to school. I would even pretend to be sick. I was so into self harming it didn't even hurt anymore. I began to shut down. I felt alone. But then I moved again but this time I'm not being bullied. I found hope and I realized that I'm worth something we all are. I went through 3 years of bullying and I'm still alive today. No matter what stay strong. Your beautiful and your special.

My first vivid memory of being bullied was at a sleepover in the 5th grade. A girl that was in my class and lived one street over invited me to her party. Most of the girls from our class were going to be there. While I didn't like most of them I figured I'd go anyway in hopes of making friends. Everything was fine for a while. We played board games and watched a movie and of course had cake and ice cream. Then things settled down and the girls decided that we should do makeovers. So the birthday girl's mom brought out some makeup. Now, I've never been a girly girl and I to this day hate makeup and dresses or getting my hair done. But I decided to participate. One girl painted my nails. I tried to just deal with it then decided I didn't like it. So after a bit went and asked the girl's mom if she had nail polish remover. She said yes and helped me clean my nails. I had just left the bathroom and was about walk back into the bedroom when I heard them laughing and then heard my name. A girl I thought was a friend said, "Some times I wonder if she really is a girl." Many of the girls laughed and agreed with her. I gritted my teeth and walked back in. I figured they'd stop being mean but it continued despite my return to the room. "So Courtney, you don't like makeup?" I nodded. Another looked at me and said, "You really should wear makeup or something though so people can actually tell that you're a girl. It's kind of creepy you know. I mean on the first day of school I thought you were a boy." The other girls agreed with her. The subject changed and after a bit I pretended like I had forgotten something at home. I grabbed my stuff and walked back home. I told my parents that I was mistaken and that it was only a party and not a sleepover. They thought nothing of it. From then on the bullying escalated throughout school. And I never really said anything. No one stood up for me. And I want anyone who is dealing with bullying to know that it gets better. You are amazing in your own special way no matter what anyone says to you. Stay strong and be yourself. Life will get better.

Hi my name is Jessica and last year in my social study's class we had something called "The Great Debate" and we were to write papers about a law you want to enforce. I choose that law saying "bullying laws will become more strict." the superintendent office were to choose two winning paper from my school, mine was chosen. Throughout months of research and local poles, my horizon on what bullying actually was changed my life. I always thought I was bullied as a kid but it turns out I had it pretty easy. I understand what being in a social crowed means and I understand how easy it can be to hurt someone. I spent countless nights crying while writing my paper due to all that I found. So once my paper was done we had a debate, my side saying "law on bullying need to be more strict" while the other said "they are already strict enough" I don't believe that kids had to start killing them self's to get attention from anywhere. I have always been against bullying and I hope others will stand up with me and make kids feel safe again. 

He still feels pain, 

For what it's worth. 

He's on the verge of feeling 

Nothing at all. 

Mirth and Laughter, 

Replaced with disdain. 

She still has feelings, 

Behind the make up 

Used as a cover up, 

The emotions pile up, 

Through it all, 

She searches for meaning. 

It still rings in my ear, 

The things you said. 

I lay awake in my bed, 

Replaying them in my head. 

I tried so hard not to, 

But I believe you everytime I stand in front of a mirror. 

They're still a person. 

They still experience life the same. 

They cry and fight, 

Broken hearted and terrified. 

Torn apart and shattered, 

Barely getting by with all their might. 

Full of Smiles and Laughter,

Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, 

Fathers, Sons, Brothers. 

 They're still someone. 

They're still a person. 

Hello , My Name Is Jennifer My Bullying Experince Started in the 1st grade i remember vividly how the kids would call me names and tease me i never knew why they called me fat and chubby it was hard for me but it didnt affect me as much as when i started middle school and eerything went downhilll from there. I remeber in the 6th grade when people would push me around and called me fatass,godzilla,and stupid and other very damaging names. i woould tell my friends that they bothered me but they didnt bother to stand up for me.the next year things got worse and i would think to myself that i wasnt worth liing on earth and i stared to believe al these horrible things they called me . i would start to try and cut but i thought what good would this do so i finally had to put in end to it i told my bestfriend what was going thruogh my mind and what i wanted to to because i was frustrated and tired that even teachers saw what was happening and they didnt say anythin i told my parents that i was beeing bullied but they had to work and already had to much worries that i didnt want to tell them anything anymore.i tried to commit suicide 2 times . one day my bully got me to the point where i couldnt take it and i started to cure at him and hit him and i said just leave me alone. this happened in school so the guidence counselors and deans got in it i told them wht  was going on and what i thought about so my parents were told and now i am free of that bully and hes not in my class now that im in the 8th grade, i stand up for people eventhough i still have a low selfasteem because i still believe some of the things they told me still once i a while i get called this but i try and block them out i will stand up for the damaged and brokes and silenced voices like many of the young souls in the world that go or went thruogh this like me because no one should ever feel like they're not worth it because your one in a million