I care because I was bullied. I care because I have seen what bullying does to people. My sister and many of my friends were bullied by these "friends" I used to have. They were very mean, they used to pick and say mean things about her when I wasn't there. My sister ended up getting hurt and never told me. After I figured it out they started picking on me as well, telling other people to not hang out with me because I was mean and rude, they made me feel like a was a bad person. My parents found out and we moved. I don't know where they are or what they are doing but I am hoping that they will no longer cause harm to other people and learn that it is better to be kind.

- 15 - California

I care because i know how it feels i was bullied and I still have the scars from it and i know people say "hey it will get better i promise" at the time i did not believe it, but now i do because people are sticking up for each other making others inspired to stand up and fight back trust me, it will be okay.

Araina - 12 - Florida

I was once bullied in middle school and when i was trying avoid it like ignore it it got worse and after it got worse i had finally did something about it stop me from getting bullied but now since now im in high school i have counseling to talk about how i'm feeling about what's going on in school so far  

Ladasia - 15 - Alabama

Up until 11 years old I have been bullied at school when I was little. Even if now I'm over it, I remember how it was really hard coming to school and I am willing to help victims with this because I dont think other people actually understand the gravity of it. My friend once asked me why victims of bullying dont tell anyone, and so I realized people are really ignorant about it because they didn't experience it. It's actually really sad

Lea - 16 - Canada

Bullying isn't cool, it doesn't make you look or seem cool all it does is make someone's life worse..

Rayce - 13 - Colorado

I have been bullied before in my life because I was too "tomboy." I wasn't girly enough for some of the kids so I mainly stuck around the guys. Some of the guys didn't like me because I was a girl. They would make fun of me because I wasn't girly. I am also very tall for a girl my age (5'6") and was also made fun for that. I had gotten major trust issues and I didn't know who to trust anymore. Everything became better once I entered middle school and made some new friends that will hopefully stay with me for the rest of my life. As time passes, everything will become better. Just wait for your time to shine.

Pearlann - 13 - FL

I care because I know what it is like. I know what it's like to not fit in, to think differently from others, to not have a friend group, to work too hard, to come from nothing. I was bullied in elementary school and when I moved to MN it didn't get better. One girl pretended to be my friend for almost 2 years and then told me I wasn't cool enough to be friends with during the bus ride on a Friday afternoon. I wish that bullying didn't exist. It's terrible and no one deserves to be bullied. 

Anonymous - 12 - Minesotta

I experienced bullying myself for just being the new kid in the school and having a mild-moderate stutter.  The emotional pain in youth was terrible, at times, and I would sometimes fake being sick just so I could avoid having to go to school.  I used this pain as a source of motivation to become licensed and working in special education for nearly 29 years now.  PROMISE TO NEVER-EVER become a bully yourself and always look for ways to stand up and support others who are going through it themselves.  You, I, anyone can become part of a positive change in society if we take our experiences and turn it into a force for good!  

Bryan - 59 - Minnesota

I have been a victim of bullying since I was 12. 

It is absolutely awful for anyone to have go through. Especially when it feels like there is no escape. 

At one point it was online, verbal, physical and threats. Now it has stopped being online but it doesn't mean that it has gotten better.

Bullying has really affected me and it has made me even more passionate about kindness and making sure that anyone who is getting bullied is supported.

Life will get better. Stand up and speak out even though it might seem really scary.

Anonymous - 14 -

Its not fair for people to feel this way. Bullying really needs to be stopped, It really is not fun to hurt kids just because of the way they act or the way they look. I have been bullied by kids younger and older than me, I tried not to let them get under my skin, but it is really hard not to. you just have to try and ignore them and if they don't then tell an adult whats happening, they will understand I promise. Please know that you are not alone and you can fix it.

Emily - 11 - Arizona

Its not fair for people to feel this way. Bullying really needs to be stopped, It really is not fun to hurt kids just because of the way they act or the way they look. I have been bullied by kids younger and older than me, I tried not to let them get under my skin, but it is really hard not to. you just have to try and ignore them and if they don't then tell an adult whats happening, they will understand I promise. Please know that you are not alone and you can fix it.

Emily - 11 - Arizona

I care because I have been a victim of bullying many times now. This is an experience I would never think I would Experience. The feeling of being worthless and just constant pain is the worst feeling ever. I want to make sure that any time someone is the room with me that they feel worthy, loved, and know that their voice matters. I created a campaign called The Be Nice Program and partnered up with PACER. With this, I am able to advocate for bullying awareness, self-respect, but also Empathy!

Rylee - 16 - Georgia

Starting this year, I have been consistently excluded by a person I thought was my friend. My "friend" acts like I'm not cool enough to be seen with and it hurts. I know friends tease each other, but when she does, I feel dumb and it doesn't feel like a joke. I have never been good at expressing my emotions, so I haven't talked to anyone. I know how much it hurts, and if I can't help myself, I want to help others. Please, for me any all the others who have been hurt, stop bullying now.

- 14 -

I care because... I could have lost myself because I was bullied. I could have lost so many friends if they didn't speak up.

- 14 -

I care because... I could have lost myself because I was bullied. I could have lost so many friends if they didn't speak up.

- 14 -

i got bullied and they said shut up tons of times

Wesley - 12 - florida

I care because I teach middle school and often feel helpless and frustrated for my students who are intentionally excluded. For my students who come to class in tears, but won't tell me exactly what happened or who is responsible for fear of retaliation. For my students who are angry and don't know why, so they take it out on weaker students and shrug it off as "just playing."  For my students who are afraid to raise their hand in class for fear of hearing a giggle or comment under another student's breath.  For the students who are afraid to go into the bathroom during class changes.  For the students who are targets on social media.  For our students in general who don't have the tools they need to deal with their emotions at this incredibly hard age.  For parents of both the victims and the bullies who don't know what to do to help their children.  For teachers who are doing the best they can, but don't know how to address situations that don't fit perfectly into our definition of "bullying."  For our community in general.  The message, or some variation of, "Choose Kind" is plastered all over our nation, but there it's not reaching our teens.  They need more. 

Jessica - 34 - Virginia

I was a victim all throughout elementary and some of middle school. It hurts because I never/still don't understand why I was a victim. A lot of people stood by and did nothing or joined in. I told my mom but she just brushed it off as did my teacher. And I never wanted to bring it up again because  I just thought my problems were never important and everybody experienced this. This caused  severe depression and my self-esteem was/is terribly low. I wish I knew how to forget about my experiences and I want to help prevent it from happening to anyone else. 

Kay - 16 -

I have been bullied all my life, and have been made to think that its my fault because i have ADHD. People seen to enjoy making my life a living hell. I tell the teachers but they dont even talk to the bully. I even transferred schools but still got bullied, plus, im too scared to tell. Please, if youre being bullied, speak up! I dont want you to suffer as much as I did. I have severe depression thanks to it, as well. Bullies need to understand what theyre doing to us.

Kaitlyn - 10 - Germany

We are all humans and we are all in this together. By being kind we can save each others lives.

Alex - 22 - Indiana

I was a victim myself. Cyber bullying to be exact. Kids out here on the internet and social media can put whatever they want, and it stays there. It disappoints me that people of all ages have the capability to click their screens a few times and then could possibly ruin a victim's life. Our world is such a cruel place, but when we take one step at a time to prevent this global problem, hopefully, one day, we will be able to stop these bullies. But for now, we shall offer care and support to the ones in need. Stop bullying.

Jessica - 13 - NV

Everyone is important. The uniqueness within everyone should be valued and accepted. The end of bullying starts with accepting others and silencing judgement. Be kind.

Madison - 18 - Pennsylvania

I was a victim of bullying in middle and high school. Im much older now but it still hurts, you never forget it. Bullying is not just someone physically hurting you- its a lot more. Its emotional damage that tears apart your self-esteem and that can take years, even a lifetime, to rebuild. It makes you feel worthless and different and isolated and helpless. Some people react to it by going out and killing others, others internalize it and end up with trauma, anxiety, depression, anorexia, OCD, or any other type of "control" disorders. I was only bullied because I wasnt very social, liked to read, not good at sports, didnt dress well, and inattentive or just not great socially with the people my age. I didnt even look different or have any noticeable physical deformities. I cant even imagine how much worse it would have been if that was the case, too. Some of the bullies grew up to be actually decent people, but they have no idea how much harm they caused me. Neither did any of the teachers or adults (or other kids) around who witnessed some but not all of the physical and emotional abuse. We need to call out bullies for who they are, and identify them personally, and make sure that people know that the problem lies with the bullies, not with the victims.  
 --David Sherman

David - 30 - New York

I have been bullied for a very long time now and I have not really told anyone about it yet. I feel as if people were to understan what I'm alway thinking about or what I have to go to school with every day, then they would stop. I have a long story of things that happened to me but I think kids and parents should be more accepting of the Lgbtq+ communitey. Just because I'm bisexual doesn't mean that I'm much more different than every other teen. (Sorry if I didn't spell some thing right)

Sarah - 13 - Kentucky

I have been bullied for a very long time now and I have not really told anyone about it yet. I feel as if people were to understan what I'm alway thinking about or what I have to go to school with every day, then they would stop. I have a long story of things that happened to me but I think kids and parents should be more accepting of the Lgbtq+ communitey. Just because I'm bisexual doesn't mean that I'm much more different than every other teen. (Sorry if I didn't spell some thing right)

Sarah - 13 - Kentucky

I have been bullied for a very long time now and I have not really told anyone about it yet. I feel as if people were to understan what I'm alway thinking about or what I have to go to school with every day, then they would stop. I have a long story of things that happened to me but I think kids and parents should be more accepting of the Lgbtq+ communitey. Just because I'm bisexual doesn't mean that I'm much more different than every other teen. (Sorry if I didn't spell some thing right)

Sarah - 13 - Kentucky

I was once bullied for a very long time. Especially between the grades 4th-6th. It was a living hell. And that's why I'm standing up for kids around the world that are going/went through things like what I went through. I want every person around to world to be happy. That's why I choose to take a stand. 

Tracy - 14 - MI

I was bullied in fifth grade and some in high school. In high school, I went through a traumatic experience that was serious and made me very self conscious and I didn’t go to school for a few days because of it. My brother, now a senior in high school, has delt with bullying worse than I ever did, for most of his high school years. Not only has he gone through terrible things that people have done to him, but it impacts our family as well. I don’t think people understand how bullying affects people and their families. Going through all of these experiences, has pushed me towards my passion of helping others in similar situations. I am currently a junior in college and am studying elementary education in hopes to eventually get my masters in school counseling. I want to make a difference and I hope you will too!

Shelby - 21 - Iowa

I was bullied in fifth grade and some in high school. In high school, I went through a traumatic experience that was serious and made me very self conscious and I didn’t go to school for a few days because of it. My brother, now a senior in high school, has delt with bullying worse than I ever did, for most of his high school years. Not only has he gone through terrible things that people have done to him, but it impacts our family as well. I don’t think people understand how bullying affects people and their families. Going through all of these experiences, has pushed me towards my passion of helping others in similar situations. I am currently a junior in college and am studying elementary education in hopes to eventually get my masters in school counseling. I want to make a difference and I hope you will too!

Shelby - 21 - Iowa

From the time I was in Kindergarten and to this day, I have been bullied. I am 4'11 and I only weigh 90 pounds, people always make fun of me, say that I am ugly for being so skinny when in reality I really cannot help that I am so little. Also, I have an 8-year old daughter and she has been bullied in school for absolutely no reason. There is no reason to bully someone. I am 1,000,000% against bullying. 

Kathryn - 27 - Kentucky