Stories
All Stories
It Hurts
Posted: 12/17/2012
It all started in kindergarten.
I remember this girl had hand sanitizer and everyone thought that was cool. I asked all of the girls if I could use it. The girl who owned it said "no, you gotta know the secret password." Everyday I tried to guess what it was.
A year later I found out the password was that I was fat and ugly. In first grade, this girl called me stupid in front of everyone. I thought that was terrible considering I was young. And this other girl called me ugly. I was pretty lonely. I got to second grade and I was friends with this girl Sarah.
At recess she ran away from me one day and told everyone else to join her. They all ran away and left me alone on the playground. I asked them "wait up, why are you running from me?" No one answered. Everyone just kept telling people to run. They did a lot.
Then I was in 3rd grade and I didn't really get bullied much. After that, I wasin 4th grade and I didn't get bullied much then either. In 5th grade my two friends Emma and Teresa would always hang out with me. But then Teresa started to be annoying. We didn't like each other. Emma would stay on her side and it was really annoying. Emma stabbed me in the back. I got to 6th grade and this girl was really mean to me.
I'd get nervous going to art every week because she was there, and would make nasty comments. "your shirt looks bad today..... I HATE YOU." she would say things like that. She really put me down.
Then in 7th and 8th grade it was REALLY bad.
I'm in 9th grade now. People still bully me. But I got lucky. They aren't really in much of my classes this year. I also found an amazing group of friends. Of course people still talk about me, but its okay. This year got so much better.
I know what its like to feel sick to your stomach before school, to be nervous to speak, to be stabbed in the back, to lose friends, to be made fun of everyday, and to be told no one likes you.
It hurts.
But it all made me stronger and I wouldnt be the person I am today. Stay strong. It does get better <3
By: April
Are You In?
Posted: 12/17/2012
I am 17 years old, and a Senior at a High School in NC. I love to read, act, write poetry, dance, sing, and hang out with my friends from time to time. I may seem like a composed person on the outside, but really on the inside I am struggling with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalised Anxiety. I have been bullied all my life. From when I first started elementary school to now. Although the bullying isn't as bad as it used to be when I was in middle school. I have been verbally bullied, physically bullied, emotionally bullied, and cyberbullied. When I was in the 8th grade, I spoke openly about my sexuality. At the time, it was a huge mistake. I was being bullied more and more as the year went on and my depression was growing, slowly taking over me as I felt like I was being pulled into this dark hole and couldn't get out. My depression grew up and kept eating at me until my Sophomore year in high school. One day, I was feeling depressed and unmotivated. I got a phone call from my little sister saying that I failed a test which made me fail a class at school. I broke down. When I got home that night I waited until everyone was asleep. I grabbed my depression medicine from the cabinet, and swallowed all the pills that were in the bottle. Within in the next 10 minutes, I was fighting for my life. I was rushed to the hospital where I stayed for two days and then was sent to an Adolescent Facility. There I learned to deal with things and value my life. Ever since that fateful night, I want to be a Clinical Psychologist and I want to be a motivational speaker. I want people to know my story. I'm not ashamed, because I'm well and alive today to tell my story and help others from doing what I did. It's time to stand up and fight. Fight for the one's that have lost their lives due to bullying and fight for the one's that are losing their lives. We can stop this together. Are you in?By: Sarah
FRIEND IN ME
Posted: 12/17/2012
Hey everyone,
I am now a senior and I just wanted to share my story. I was a bully in elementary school then I switched school. In jr high I was bullied a lot, people were calling me names like camel and taunting me. I almost got my hand slammed into my locker, whereever I went throughout the campus this same group of kids followed me.
I used to love school but once I got bullied, well, then I hated it.
I finally told my mom and it led to the kids being suspended. I finally stood up for myself which felt good. As a bonus the bullies stopped bullying me after they realized there actions were no longer affecting me. I was bullied on and off throughout my high school years.
During football season I chose to help out a suicide prevention organization with an event instead of cheering at a football game. After the game was over my fellow cheer squad members decided to bully me for choosing to help prevent suicides. So, for my senior project, I chose to develop a program to prevent bullying called FRIEND IN ME.
I hope it can help prevent bullying in the future.
By: Cassy, Age 17
Bullying
Posted: 12/4/2012
I am 26 years old. Growing up I was bullied from second grade to my second year of college daily!
In elemantary school kids boys and girls called me every name possible, during lunch had food thrown at me, kids would circle around me and tease me until I cried. At recess had balls thrown at me and pushed to the ground. During gym class I was always last to be picked and fought over who had to have me on their team.
In middle school the same kids called me names, tripped me in the hallway, nobody wanted me on their team at gym class. Continued into High School same could not walk down the hallway without being pushed or name called. Kids put a thumb tack and gum on my chair. I ate lunch by myself.
I made my first friend in 10th grade. Before that any time I would make a friend the kids who bullied me told my friend they could not be my friend. I was even made fun the night of my high school graduation.
First year of college was just as bad. Finally stopped second year of college. After so many years of being horribly bullied I walked away as a stronger, caring, loving person! I am known to be a happy,bubbly, love to meet new people, person.
As I tell my friends I am always a phone call away. It was extremely difficult, hurtful, and confusing, didn't understand why my guidance counselor or teachers could not help me. The horrible memories never go away. Going through what I went through I can relate and always there to be a friend and listen to someone who is being bullied.
The most important thing from someone who is being bullied is to have a trusting friend!
Words can't describe the daily pain people go through.
There are positive ways to look at the situation and doesn't always have to end negatively.
Like I said before it has made a stronger person.
By: Ashley
Bullying
Posted: 12/4/2012
For people who think bullying is fun, it is usually the people who don't have many friends or do but try to impress their friends by pushing people littler than them around like there nothin.
I've been bullied and I still get bullied by the same people and different people everday. When being bullied you don't think about anything or any one you sometimes go in to a deep deep depression like I do.
I sit at a lunch table myself all the way away from my classmates because the make fun of the way I dress, where I shop, and they call me names like lesbian, or he-she. Which is so cruel, that when I go home I sometimes cry myself to sleep, I get so depressed that I think like its all my fault I feel like I'm not worth anything. I had sueicideal thoughts.
But to all the bully's out there what you are doing its not cool it does not make you more popular it just makes you mean, and no one likes mean people.
I AM AGAINST BULLYING ! ! YAY
By: Kiey'nay'ja
UNTITLED
Posted: 11/20/2012
There’s a group of girls at school,
they hardly know anyone but they torment everyone,
There’s one girl they all bully
Nobody does anything, nobody can
We stand and watch and join in when we can.
The girl now self-harms and wants to kill herself
We have ruined her life
She had potential, we all have potential
She had a voice like an angel, but now she doesn’t speak
Now she never sings
Now her life is ruined
And we stood by and watched.
By: Isabel
Keriann's Story
Posted: 11/20/2012
To tell you my story you have to understand my background the places and roots that I come from. I was born into a family who was struggling. My dad was in the military and left when I was a baby. I had a mom, and I had a brother. My mom was a teenager, her mom was in jail, and she had two kids while trying to make it on her own. She had no money, getting food was a struggle, and we didn’t stay anywhere to long because we got evicted every time. Two years of struggling went by and my little sister was born. Now, my mom had three kids. She was never home and we always had a babysitter. Well, she decided enough was enough when I was two and a half. She couldn’t take care of three children. She called an adoption agency and put me and my sister up for adoption.
The first family they found for us didn’t work out and they gave us back. The second family did work but then right before finalization she took us back and decided she couldn’t handle giving us up. So, she let six months go by. By time this happened, I was old enough to understand and retain exactly what happened. It was right when my memory started developing when she finally gave us up for the last and final time. I never saw her again and I remember every waking moment of it. I was a devastated little girl who just lost her big brother and her mommy and felt like I was broken. I cried at night for hours on end for years. I got so angry id hit myself on the legs, I would pull my hair, id kick the wall, I’d throw things, and I’d throw huge fits to where I was just letting every ounce of pain flood the house.
My new parents never really understand, they thought getting us was the best day of their lives. Maybe it was, but for me, it was the beginning of a long road of pain and suffering that still hasn’t left me. When I went to Kindergarten, I was a good kid. I never did anything too bad at school and I was pretty happy. Although, I still remember being bullied by a little girl. I never told my parents, I didn’t trust them.
In first grade I went to a new school full of new people. I was so angry at school. People were mean to me, and in return I was mean back. Of course, my parents didn’t understand. They punished me, they didn’t understand my feelings, and they sure didn’t stand up for me. Then a little girl told the teacher I said a bad word. I didn’t. She told the teacher and the teacher was rude about it, yelled at me, and called my parents. Again, I got in trouble. The next month that same girl was picking on me at recess. I had enough, and I threw mud at her. I couldn’t take being hurt anymore and I was sick of being pushed around. Of course I got in trouble and nobody cared how I was feeling. At this time I started telling people I hated being at home and id tell them my adoption story, hoping someone would hear me and understand. I felt like I had to grow up too fast. I understood way too much and felt separated from other kids because of it. I was only six.
In second grade I became best friends with a girl who made fun of me to the other kids. I was tormented every day! I kept it all in side until I snapped and that’s the day everything went downhill. I was determined to make it known how I was feeling. I yelled at the girl and was just so mean. Her friend later slapped me on the face. I didn’t tell anyone! Then a few months later a girl stole my candy and I finally had the courage to tell the teacher and the teacher didn’t believe me. Why? According to her, I was a trouble maker. I then stole some candy from the girl. She told the teacher and I got into trouble at school and even worse at home. Nobody knew what I was going through.
Third grade came along, and a girl came to school was just cruel and mean to me. She laughed at me; shed make clubs that were targeted against me. Kids would laugh at me, and repeatedly called me names. I tried to ignore it but as a small child I couldn’t. So, I was mean back. Still bottling everything inside, she told the teacher and the teacher yelled at me. That teacher acted like I was the worst. She acted as though she had no tolerance for me. I hated school! Although I hated school I couldn’t stand being at home. This was about the time I noticed something wasn’t right at home. I realized that I felt alone. I also noticed my mom acted like I was a bad kid. Never standing up for me, never asking and constantly punishing me for things that didn’t happen. My dad defended her. He was never even home because of work and he still took her side. So, I continued hiding my feelings, I drew away from my mom. I started begging for attention so someone would notice me and realize what I was going through. I started lying, stealing, and being mean. I hated who I was and I hated my life.
In fourth grade, more mean girls came to the school and tormented me every second of the day. Not only did they verbally torment me but they follow me and make me as uncomfortable as possible. They send me notes saying things that I wouldn’t repeat even as a teenager.
This continued into fifth grade. Then a girl started offering me her food that she didn’t want to eat because her mom would get mad if she didn’t finish it. Then her mom started asking questions when she didn’t think it was true so she told her mom I stole her lunch from her. I didn’t do that and believe it or not, I never tried. My mom didn’t back me up. She simply didn’t listen and she punished me until I told the truth. Well, I didn’t want that forever so I said I did to get out of it. My mom still speaks of me stealing this girl’s lunch today. Something I never did.
Sixth grade came and I lost it. It was the first time I felt I wanted to die. I cried all the time. I even hurt myself with a pencil once. I hated life, I hated my parents for being the biggest pain in my life, I hated everyone who bullied me, and I trusted no one. A teacher started bullying me as well. She called me stupid, said I wouldn’t make it, threatened me, and even brought up my adoption once and how I wasn’t wanted.
Middle school was the worst. I cried all the time, I sat alone at lunch, I felt alone once again, and I even wished to be dead. I made a Facebook so I could talk to people. My parents found out, took my phone and Facebook and didn’t know that, having that Facebook saved my life one night when I was going to hang myself. I was only 13. They took away everything from me and I hated them. I hated them for taking me from my family as kid, I hated them for taking away my forms of communication that I needed desperately, and I felt like they hated me.
In ninth grade I got told to die by a girl on my last day at that school. I switched school, had no friends, continued being treated like crap, and my sister became popular. I slipped through the cracks. I was nice to everyone, I behaved at home, and I tried with my grades. Yet I got yelled at when I was home, I got rejected at school, and my friends turned against me. I started cutting myself. Somehow that pain I was hoping would make me feel better on the inside. When it didn’t work id keep trying until it did work. I started making up suicide plans, Id plan days and even times. I always thought maybe it’ll get better? I’ll wait. That never worked... It got worse. I continued self-harm. Things at home got worse. Friends got worse. Every day was a struggle and I needed help. Things kept getting worse, and then the girl from my old school, the one who told me to die, transferred schools. She transferred to my school.
A couple weeks into 11th grade I saw these same girls at the store. They laughed at me. They ran the other direction. Everyone brushed it off, but these are the things a struggling teenage girl never lets go, it’s almost impossible.
I can guarantee that if people understand what bullying did to people, things would be a little different. We are all together in the same place for 4 years, and in our case, 6.
Why make it the worst time of one person’s life, to make it your best? It is sickening and sad how one child has the power to make things so hard for someone and there life for years. Bullying not only pulls apart friendships, but it sometimes draws lines in families, and it does kill. Let’s not let it get to that point. Don’t wait until it happens to you, there’s someone in the same halls as you hurting now.
Ive recently discovered that my parents did care, they love me so much, I was given up to a family who cares about me and does there best to get me what I need.. I can always count on them. But that’s what bullying does! It tears familys, people, and individuals apart…
Honestly, as a young child, when you are told something so often, that’s when you start to believe it.. That’s what happened to me. I know I am not the only one and I want everyone to take this as a lesson.
Bullies: this is what you do to families and there kids
Victims: Your parents love you. Don’t believe the lies fed to you because you are so worth it!
Everyone else: Stand Up. Speak out. Don’t let a child slip through the cracks. Let someone know theyre loved today ?
Families: if your loved one is suffering from bullying don’t tell them to ignore it. Don’t act like its no big deal because it is so much deeper than that.. Let your child know theyre loved and take a stand today
I am now 16, still bullied everyday, and I am starting an anti-bullying campaign in my town. Its hard without a budget but it is an awesome experience for me :)
By: Keriann
NAMES
Posted: 11/15/2012
An illustrated book by David Jay Hall
By: David Jay Hall
Kelly's Story
Posted: 11/15/2012
When I was born I was immediately adopted because my mother was too young to raise me. Ten years later she gave birth to my sister Kelly. It wasn't until I was 20, that I finally had the opportunity to meet my wonderful mother and sister. In the last year, I have spent many phone calls and visits discussing the issues my sister has been having while in school.
She has been bullied consistently for being overweight, and being 'unattractive', and for being not as smart as her other classmates. At the age of 12, she has had to overcome more hatred and hurt than most young girls her age. Since I live four states away, and in college full time, I cannot protect her. Our mother works two jobs to support Kelly and herself to the best of her abilities.
The pain she has suffered has only increased since she started middle school. In the last few months she has made every excuse in the book to get out of going to school. She has bruised her own eye, threatened to commit suicide, and eventually her threats made it back to school officials. She was immediately placed in a mental health facility.
When my mother called to tell me the news I was angry and hurt. Kelly had been bullied and attacked so terribly verbally by her fellow students that she was unable to think of continuing her life.
The bullying won't stop until her community and peers learn the proper skills to handle those different from themselves. I cannot always be the one to protect my sister. But it is my hope that by introducing Teen Bullying Groups into local areas, teens who are, and have been bullied can come together, and join hands to change their lives and the lives of those doing the bullying.
From a sister close at heart, and unfortunately far apart, the difficulties she faces are some I cannot begin to help her understand. But it is my hope that with love and support she can grow into a beautiful, and strong woman. Stop the bullying today, and save a life, someones life, your life, my sisters life.
By: Jordan
Silent Voices
Posted: 11/12/2012
Hey! My name is Taylor and I am proud to say that I am the author and illustrator of this story, Silent Voices, which tells the story of my actual experiences with bullying. I was a victim of bullying, such as name-calling, physical harm and emotional harm, and even sexual harassment. I will never forget the numerous times I would go to a social worker or a teacher or school staff member about these issues and they would always turn me down, saying that, "teenagers are just being teenagers," or "I think you're over-reacting, kid." A while after being ignored, I started to believe that this was the way I was supposed to be treated in school because I had Autism and Epilepsy, and I was supposed to allow this mistreatment to carry on until I couldn't take it anymore. I know what it is like to be bullied, to be depressed and feeling alone, to actually try and take my own life in the middle of the night so I wouldn't bother anyone.
In 2013, I will be 18 years old and I have figured out after many years of pain and sadness that I was not alone. I wasn't the only one to try and skip school because I didn't feel wanted there, not the only one to get targeted with nasty names because I glanced someone's way while walking down the hallway or get hit because I was zoning out. I also wasn't the only one to try and take my life and I wasn't the only one who wanted it to all just STOP.
While reading my side of the story, keep in mind that there are many other people being bullied for reasons that vary. And, to those who feel like they cannot do anything, it only takes one voice to stop this uprising battle of mistreatment and bullying. Together, we can all work hard to make schools a safer place. Be a friend, an ally, and help those who are silent like I was. Everyone is meant to be different and everyone is meant to be treated as equal.
I hope you enjoy this story and will take a stand against bullying.
By: Taylor
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