WEB EXCLUSIVE

got bullied for four years straight. Life changed a lot, including the way I viewed myself, other people and life. I got bullied for the way I had my hair, the way I dressed, and just the way I looked in general.

The kids picked on it all, I was only in 4th grade at the time. The bullying began when a kid told me I was going to hell because I had my hair short. I’ve been told countless times ”how could you have your hair short, how can you wear something like that?”

I’ve been insecure about anything- and everything- I do. I feel I will never be good enough for anyone, all because people picked on stuff I couldn’t help, change, or things that shouldn’t matter

To this day, it’s the little things I hear. Every day I look in the mirror and can find at least 10 things I hate about myself. Every day I fight to accept myself for who I am and to not become someone who I’m not all because of what those kids said about me, or to me.  It’s been a year since I’ve gotten bullied and I still fight every day. I look in the mirror and I look at what I am wearing, I debate whether or not I should wear makeup. I ask what this person would think of that, or if that person would think this.

This puts a lot of stress on me, and it may seem like a small deal but it’s not to me. Most days when I wake up from getting very little sleep, I don’t want to get out of bed or go to school. But I have to go to school I have to get up because if I don’t I will only be giving in to my depression instead of fighting it. When I go to school. I try and avoid most people. I am usually on honor roll, A’s and B’s were the only things you saw on my report card. But recently, as I’ve gotten older and my depression gets worse. I don’t have the energy to do anything, to eat, to do homework. All I want to do is sleep, and most of the time that’s what happens. I go into my room and sleep. Depression can happen to anyone, at any time, but I honestly believe that maybe if I hadn’t gotten bullied my depression wouldn’t be as bad.

I still don’t accept myself for who I am, all because of what a couple kids said to me for a couple of years.

Bullying takes a big toll on anyone who experiences it. Not only does it put certain thoughts into the victims’ heads, but those thoughts stay there even after the bullying stops.

It’s already hard being a teen, so why should anyone make it any more difficult for other teens? Bullying is not cool, it’s not okay. It can lead to many things, from lifelong problems that can sadly result in suicide.

I have seriously considered to suicide but, fortunately, I haven’t succumbed to my thoughts. The reason I haven’t committed is that I have people who talk me down; I have friends who look at me and tell me to just calm down and such.

In the end, all you can do for victims is just let them know you are there. As someone who has gone through all of this, trying to get them to talk about it does not make it any better.

Bullying takes a mental and physical toll on anyone and everyone. Don’t be a bully or a bystander.