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My story
Posted: 8/29/2014
Ever since I was 5 years old and started school I was called fat, freak, teachers pet, right through to intermediate. In intermediate I was called ugly wasted space, worthless, FAT, and got beaten up a few times. When I started high school, I was sick of life, I was called emo, attention seeker and the same things in primary, on my second year of high school, my life changed, I had type one diabetes, I was diagnosed with PTSD, Depression and Anxiety, my uncle passed away and I was suicidal. I was addicted to self harm and cutting, I only ever wore black nail polish, my hair was black and I still was an attention seeker, I was told "you should go kill yourself, you're worthless, pathetic, hopeless and mental!" that went on for 2 more years I reached out for help and I left school I went to school and was bullied for 12 years.
By: Kirsten
Little Bird
Posted: 8/20/2014
You are not ugly
You're a little bird
I know one day you will see
The measure of your worth
Those who crumpled and crushed you
Were acting cowardly
They concealed from view
Their own inadequacy
You are not ugly
Rosebuds are pretty
You are a little tiger
You are silk and amber
You're a caterpillar
You'll know what this means
When a pair of silken wings
Shows you the world from above
I'm sitting in your future
Outside your chrysalis
Keep well and study
Knowledge will set you free
I hope you'll remember
All that you've just heard
Apply to the letter
Every single word
Repeat after me
'I am not ugly
The other kids have lied to me
Because of their own misery'
That is common currency
In human psychology
In time you will see
Despair can breed brutality
There is much beauty
Outside your chrysalis
Hold your head above the mirk
Water nymph
Come forth and become me
By: Nili Roberts
Stand Up, Speak Out!
Posted: 8/20/2014
By: Project AHEAD
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My Mary Cate
Posted: 8/12/2014
Mary Cate Lynch may only be two years old, but she’s already making a huge impact on the world around her. Born with a rare craniofacial condition called Apert Syndrome, Mary Cate looks different from many other kids. After enduring unkind words directed at Mary Cate at a park, her mom, Kerry, decided she had to do something. Now, Kerry and Mary Cate visit young students in their community to educate them about differences, disabilities, and being kind. Kerry encourages other parents to use Mary Cate’s story to teach their children that disabilities aren’t scary, that differences are ok, and that Mary Cate enjoys the same things they do – coloring, candy, and play time.
By: Kerry
From Being Teased To Spreading Kindness
Posted: 7/18/2014
When I was in preschool I remember getting teased on a regular basis by one specific girl. In her mind there was nothing wrong with pinching me over and over, making my arms red, and yelling at me. It was all fun and games for her and a nightmare for me. All I ever wanted was to make others happy and be friends with everyone. She made it impossible to come to school and not worry about whether I would be pinched or not. I would come home crying trying to figure out what it was that I had done to deserve getting pinched every day. Why did this girl not like me? Was I such a bad kid? What confused me even more was being pinched by someone who on some days would act like my friend, wanting to play together. Did she really think that she would gain a friendship by being mean? Years later since seeing this girl, I ran into her at a day camp and she continued pinching, each time telling an adult that she wasn’t pinching me.
Back in elementary school I got teased more. I wore glasses, usually had my hair in a braid, and was quiet, all of which meant that I was a target for teasing. Certain girls hated me and would tell me how they hated me. I would come home crying, not wanting to have to deal with them again. I wanted to be friends with people not a target for name-calling. I remember coming home after school one day and my mother calling up the parents of the girls who were making me cry and feel hurt. Interestingly, the parents denied their child ever doing anything to me and said that I had made up the whole story to my parents. When my mother got off the phone that night, I recall saying over and over “Mommy they DID tease me, they hurt my feelings!” and my mother would completely understand and know that I wouldn’t make up a story that was so hurtful to me.
As an adult looking back on these experiences, I can’t help but still wonder how people could be so hurtful to others and not see anything wrong with it. What do they really get out of hurting others and making others so upset? Why can’t everyone show kindness towards others? When I was 11 my grandpa passed away and left each of his grandchildren a letter of wisdom. What stuck with me the most, besides hearing the compassion of my grandpa through his words, was his choice to explain how important kindness is to the world: “Be friendly and polite to everybody. Never wait for people to say hello. You say hello to everybody, your friends, relatives, whoever you know.” This is how I have lived my life: with kindness. Treat people how you would like to be treated; don’t wait for others to show you kindness instead show them kindness.
By: Sophie
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All My Life
Posted: 7/15/2014
Most of my life I've been bullied. Mostly for the way that I look, being overweight as a kid is hard. When your little there aren't any boundaries, you just say what's on your mind. As I got older I lost a lot of weight, but I was still on the not so skinny side. People would still make fun of me and it got harder cause the kids that would say things would act as my friends for about 5 minutes then say something insulting. It made me want to just run and cry, but I had to keep strong. I don't know what makes them want to hurt someone, it's enough knowing what they say be hide your back but hearing someone say it directly at you, makes worse to handle it. My middle school experience was the worst, in 6th grade I was bullied during p.e. for just being there at the wrong time. I was bullied by a girl that was bigger then me, she thought since she had girls backing her up and that she knew she was bigger then me, made her feel that she could toss me around. At one point it went to far, they had pulled down my shorts in front of everyone. My friends really didn't back me up, which made me think if I even had any friends. I thought they didn't want to help because they were afraid they would become another victim. But as I progressed it got better for me, I always stand up for people who are bullied even if I don't, know them. I'm about to enter my 2nd year of high school and I feel safe, for once in my life. I don't get judged and I don't let people say nasty things to me, I stand up because I've become a fighter not just for myself but for others.
By: Sophia
Roar Against Bullying
Posted: 7/15/2014
By: The students of Sheridan Middle School
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My Story
Posted: 7/2/2014
When i was in 2 grade i used to get bullied because if my height and i couldnt run or do things like PE because i was born with a heart mumer it was sad i was born with a diffrent color wish meant i had a problem i wasnt smart nor dome i was good in all subject i will be laught at but friends ( two friend only ) backed me up then it eneded when the kid left the week befor tlhe last week of school.Then in 3rd grade there used to be this kid who was from cube he bullied half the class i was that half he will make us bring him stuff if not he will hit us and do stuff he will say and laugh at u if u liked someone or sometimes he will just tell u have to date him or someone else one assgiment the teacher gave us was what will u like to do when u grow up i thought that kid was playing that he really didnt write that but he did he wrote WHEN I GROW UP I WILL LIKE TO KILL he put my name it hurt me i told the teacher he got in trouble and send to the office then the last day if school came and he didnt come back he when to another school and 4 th grade was awsome my class was like a family but 5 th grade was bad thsi girl got me in trouble called me fat so did her mom do things to me made me and my best friend fight her qnd her mom were bullies she hot me sent to the principlas office treadnt to call the cops on me and did more almost made my teacher loss her job that was sad but no one liked her eveey on else love me hated her they new what she did we were all friends we were family but sh wasnt part of it.
By: Anonymous
One Step Closer
Posted: 7/1/2014
Middle school students Allison, Malisha, and Dori wanted to educate people about bullying. So they set up a stand in their community center to educate adults and students in their community about how bullying affects students and what they can do to stop it. They also collected donations to send to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. They write, “You have inspired our group to help our community and stop bullying! all of our group now feels like we have done something that is helping the community. We hope we helped with your program and we now know we are one step closer to stopping bullying!”
By: Anonymous
I'd Rather Be Me
Posted: 6/17/2014
I wish I fit in, I wish I was cool.
I wish those popular girls wouldn’t be so cruel.
I wish I had cute clothes and soft bouncy curls,
But my hair is black, unlike those other girls’.
Why don’t I fit in? Am I not pretty?
Maybe, because they look down at me with pity.
What am I doing? Why do I care?
It doesn’t matter if they have cute clothes or curly hair.
How foolish of me! Who cares? Let them be!
I’d rather be me than what they want to see.
By: Faith, 11
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