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You'll Find A Way
Posted: 5/10/2011
well, i just want to say to all of the girls or boys out there that have been bullied, never give up. you'll find a way, 'cause there's always another way and there's always tomorrow. and tomorrow will always be better than yesterday. so don't stop giving up! all my supports on you!!By: Teri
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Never Give Up
Posted: 5/10/2011
Hey! My name is Laura and I live in Rochester MN. To anyone walking down the halls I look like a normal 15 year-old teenager, but I have a very deep secret. I am a victim of bullying. It all started when i was a 12 year-old in 6th grade. It just started with rumors and giggling from my peers. In 7th grade it escalated to one girl in particular coming up to me and screaming at me to make a scene. The other kids just laughed when I sat there and cried. I would not go to lunch because of the fear I might be targeted. I never told anyone the first 2 years. In 8th grade, it escalated again. It was boys this time staring rumors and saying things to my friends to make me look like a bad guy. We have this one assignment thing in English called a journal. It is nothing of importance, and then one day we had to turn them in for credit, and I always write in the margins of my notebooks about everything. One thing my teacher saw was... "I am being bullied and it is draining me emotionally and physically." I did not think much of it at the time because when I do that so much it does not even occur to me. It was written very small but the teacher still saw it. When she was handing the notebooks back, she did not give mine back. I wondered why. Then at the end of class she said "Laura I have to talk to you." I did not know what was going to happen. Then she pulled out my journal to the page that it said that, and said "Can we talk about this?" I had no idea that was what she was going to bring up. Since I was so stunned when she did that I just said everything was okay and that was that. We both knew that, that was not the truth though because when she did that I was trying so hard not to cry but I still had the tears in my eyes. I later emailed her telling her all about it. She took it very seriously and told the principals and everything. They boy got punished and that was that.
Until I entered high school... I would have never thought that my freshman year would be the worst of them all. The bullying started right away in high school, with a group of about 8 boys that I barely knew, I just knew who they were. At first it was just them saying stuff like, "You suck at life hardcore", or "you have no heart, you fatass.", but it soon escalated to them saying worse stuff. One thing they said that I will never forget is.. "Go commit suicide by gargling with motor oil, and then swallowing a match so you will blow up and no one will have to worry about you anymore, it would be beneficial for everyone."
That absolutely killed me. I mean what human being says that to one another? And that was when I became depressed.
I told my mom what was being said and she called the school without me knowing, and that next monday I got called down to the office. I was so scared because I am not a "bad girl" so I was never called down there before. I soon figured out what my mom had done. I never hated or resented her for it, but i sure did not appreciate what she did. Now I understand though and it was the best thing she could have done.
The administrative assistant talked to the kids doing it, and it stopped for a good month. Then it became worse, there was a new ring leader. I was isolated and not reporting the incidents at this point because I was terrified what would happen next if I did. I just kept to myself. Then, I was pushed down the stairs and shoved into lockers, and I did come home with bruises. I was still scared to tell the school. But, I left band class crying one day, and I did not see my friend coming after me and she was asking if I was okay, but I blurted out.. "NO! I hate this school so much, I just want to leave!!" I left the band hall, and I sat in the hallway crying. She put her arms around me and told me everything would be okay, and so did one of my good senior guy friends. I went to the bathroom to get some tissue since I was crying, and just my luck I ran into the administrative assistant, but I kept walking into the bathroom, and since he was a guy he went and got my counselor- since i had been talking to her about it- and told her to check on me. I did not know this was set up. But i left the bathroom before she came in. I had to go in the bathroom again though to get some tissues and I ran into her. She asked if everything was okay, but I just walked away, and then she followed me into the band area and asked if I had a minute but i just flat out said no. She ended up calling my mom. For the rest of the band period I just sat in a corner crying because I did not know what to do since I was so scared. Once band was over, one of my brothers friends got my brother. He came over and so did my very good friend. They were telling me how I had to tell the school so they could take care of this terrible problem. I was being very stubborn and would not go with them. After about 15 minutes of negotiating, they finally forcibly got me to my feet. I was trying to convince them I was okay at that point because the last thing I wanted to do was tell the school only to be disappointed once again. We went down to where his office is and the secretaries said he was in the lunchroom. I took that in a good way because I thought I would not have to talk to him anymore. Instead my brother went to get him while me and my other friend waited. Once I saw him I started freaking out and trying to go away but I couldn't because my friend was holding my hand. When he came over he said that I need to go to his office and I said I was fine and I did not want to. But he doesn't take no for an answer and had my brother and my friend escort me down and he said he would be in there as soon as possible. When he said that I knew that he was going to get the counselor and at that time we were in a fight and I had been refusing to talk to her that last month. Once he came in there with the counselor following I was made very uncomfortable. She left and so did the administrator. He had one other thing to deal with before me, but I didn't care. After about 20 minutes waiting he came in, and said "So Laura why were you crying?", and I said that I didn't know. I was so scared. My friend said to act like I am talking to her and tell him exactly what I told her had been going on. I did. I made my brother to leave for a little bit because I didn't want him hearing some of the stuff. Then, I had him come back in, and the administrator made me go down to talk to the counselor. I guess he wanted to talk to my friend and my brother alone. So I went down and talked to her for another hour. Then I left. I was totally numb and had no emotion left in me by then. I honestly just wanted to curl up in a ball, go to sleep, and never wake up again. The administrator took it seriously but did not believe me because we had no hard core evidence. And that was what I was afraid of.
This last incident happened on April 14, 2011. So it was not very long ago. I have not been going to the school for anything anymore because I don't want to be disappointed. I now go to a therapist to work with skills though. I am diagnosed with depression. I also cut. I want to do something about bullying for other kids. I know what it feels like and I would never wish -even my worst enemy- to go through what I did and still do everyday. From the things that were said and done to me, I have suffered mental illness. I want to reach out to other young adults in my community that are going through the same thing that I did. I want to make a difference. It may take a while but never give up. Tell a parent, I know what it feels like to be scared to be judged by them but they only want the best. You deserve to be treated like everyone else.
By: Laura
Words Hurt
Posted: 5/10/2011
I was made fun of at school and online just because I liked Radio Disney. People would post horrible things on my FaceBook. One time, I asked someone a question "Who is your favorite singer/band?" and they, knowing that I had sent the message, responded "Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift". I KNEW that they neither liked Justin Bieber nor Taylor Swift; they did it just to make fun of me. In one of my classes, there are two boys that always shouted "I love Disney Channel" whenever they got the chance. For example, I was doing a presentation, and they kept shouting "I love Miley Cyrus" and "Justin Bieber Never Say Never" over and over again. I always hated going to that class. Every time I walked into that classroom, it was like they were killing me slowly with words of hate.
By: Jenny
Be The Voice
Posted: 5/5/2011
I've been bullied throughout my time in school. I don't believe in bullying, it should be put to a stop. I read on yahoo news yesterday about a girl who had comitted suicide because of bullying and she was only 15 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her for it to be thrown away because of people being cold. Also, teens are not the only people who bully, teachers or even parents can do it too. I've seen teachers bully their students and its wrong, and it makes me think how can we confide in our elders if they are bullies themselves? What can we do to make a change if no one else cares? I want help put a stop to bullying in every form and fashion. Its over-rated and action does need to be done. We need to take a stand for those who can't stand for themselves. We need to be a voice to those who have none. We need to be an example to future generations.
By: Kimberly
Untitled
Posted: 5/3/2011
I've never been the person to really have a voice for something. I'm known to be funny at times, but most of the time, I'm the quietest one in the room. When I do talk, I sometimes have a stutter or I can't enunciate some words as they do. I never really cared about my enunciation problem, because no one ever brought it up. But one day I went into the bathroom and a few seconds later a few girls walked in and were laughing, they didn't know I was in there. They were going on about how I can't read and kept repeating "ta ta ta today junior". Sometimes, the bullying may not be face to face, but bullying behind your back can hurt even worse. The people who you thought were your friends turn out to make fun of you and call you names. That's when it really hurts.
By: Fall Out Girl
A Look Back
Posted: 5/3/2011
My name is Mary and I am 22 years old. I heard of this program from Demi Lovato at a concert this past year. I just want to say THANK YOU for developing such awareness to bullying. When I was younger there was nothing out there like this. When I was in grade school and high school I use to be teased, because of my weight and my smarts. I use to have food thrown at me and called names on a daily basis. The truth is they the bullies who was doing it didn’t know how sick I was and that is why I had and still have a weight issue. I was too scared to tell anyone so I kept it to myself and I think that was one of the worse moves. But instead I didn’t let the kids get to me instead I became stronger and it made me who I am today. I learned to be positive and just be me and not let anyone get under my skin because if you do that way they are winning.
The truth I discovered is they are just bullies because they have their own insecurities. So today I look back and I see how accomplish I became versus the bullies and in the end I know I won! I would like to help in any way I can with this program, because I know the pain these teens are going through. I want to help to try to stop kids hurting themselves or taking their own lives because of this. I want them to understand that is a way of the bullies winning and having power. I want to help kids be strong and take a stand and realize we are all equals and all are going through the same thing.
By: Mary
Notes:
The words that people use can be powerful weapons.My Best Friend Did Not Deserve This!
Posted: 5/3/2011
This is my personal experience with bullying. It is the story of my best friend.
Well today at school, my best friend was bullied really badly. He has always been bullied ever since we were little (we are in 8th grade now)! Most of the boys make fun of him and call him "gay". They make fun of him because he hangs out with the girls (like me)! My best friend is bullied so much that he gets counseling!!! Today one boy (who is known for being bad and I think he is a juvenile delinquent) made fun of my best friend by telling him how gay he was and then he.....well let’s just say he made it look like he was doing something that is really inappropriate!!!!! Anyway, I unfortunately was not in this class so I couldn’t stand up for him like I would normally do!!!! I was in my music class but after that class we all go to recess/lunch and that was when my other friend told me what happened and told me that he was in the front office crying so hard that he couldn’t talk!!! They had to call his mom to come get him!!!! I don’t even think they did any discipline to the bully!!! at least they haven’t yet!!!! I think he should be suspended!!! At lunch the bully was going around telling all the boys what he had done, in other words he was bragging about it!!! The sad part is I don’t even think that he is sorry!!!! My best friend did not deserve this!! He is a really nice person!!! I don’t know what to do!!!! All I ever do is stand up for him but this time I wasn’t around to help him!!!!!! I don’t know how to make him feel better!!!!!!!!!!
I believe bullying is wrong and that the world should hear his story and see how bad an effect bullying has on kids!!!!!
By: Casey
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Just Because I'm Smart
Posted: 5/3/2011
Doesn't mean I study all the time.
Doesn't mean I deserve to be bullied.
Doesn't mean I'm better than everyone.
I'm me and I'm loving it.
By: Breanna
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Moving
Posted: 5/3/2011
I was born with Cerebral Palsy that only affected the right side of my body. I can walk, talk, run, write and read on my own. I feel like any other almost fourteen year old girl. In my old neighborhood, the kids knew me well, they never judged me.
When I was seven, I moved. They kids called me things like "The Creeper" or even "It". We had a special language class, we learned the native language. The teacher would always fail me because I couldn't pronounce the words. The kids would mock me for this, saying this like "I don't speak Chinese, Creeper". When I was in gym, some boys would throw their shoes at my face and claim it was an "accident". Then, a boy pushed me into a small creek after school, which was covered in ice. If my friend wasn't there, I might have died because back then, I couldn't swim.
By: AMF
Notes:
Students with disabilities are often bullied because of the characteristics of their disability, which is NOT something that can be changed. Take the chance to get to know someone who is different from you, you will be glad you did.More People Will Get Hurt
Posted: 5/3/2011
I was bullied in Elementary and Middle School. I'm a junior in high school now and while it's gotten better, it's still there in one way or another. In middle school, I'd be publicly humiliated-they'd pull my hair or pull down my pants to see my underwear, they'd threaten me and make fun of me when I backed out...they'd shove me against lockers and I was jumped in the hallway in 7th grade. Two girls just kept beating me up and wouldn't stop-other kids would just stand, watch, and laugh... they'd take my books and throw them in the hall, they would break into my locker and take my things...they even broke into my gym locker and took my clothes.
I was boo-ed at when I won an award and I was pushed down the stairs or in the hall or off the stage.
In high school, it's more verbal. People say the worst things imaginable. They criticize, they harass, they humiliate you. But whether it's physical or not, it's hurtful and wrong. We have to stop this before it gets worse. The people behind us will just continue if we don't end it NOW. Bullying is serious-we should stand together to stop it or more and more people will get hurt.
Rock on!!! ~Peace and Love~
By: Amanda
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Notes:
If you see or hear someone being harassed, try to get them out of the situation. Ask them to come sit with you, distract the person doing the bullying, you can make a difference.Send Us Your Story or Video
Submit a video, story, poem, artwork, or audio clip expressing how you feel about bullying, how you think it affects students and schools, what you have done to prevent bullying, or what others can do to prevent bullying.
