This piece is important to me because as a child in elementary school, I was called worthless, nothing, a mistake, and a waste of space. Elementary school. I was bullied as soon as I switched schools in third grade. I didn't know what bullying was, I had never experienced it before, and I was blindsided when it began. It hit me like a boulder twice my size because I couldn't understand why two girls would gang up on me just to be so horrible. My confidence died in elementary school, with every shove, ever name they called me, every laugh the threw my way. I had problems talking to anyone after that, I had problems with my friends, I had problems in my relationships, I had problems taking chances that could have furthered me in many aspects of my life. Now, of course, I have changed my way of thinking and my experiences have helped me become who I am today, a strong and confident person. But this doesn't mean everyone turns out great and happy after their bullying experience. Some of them have such low self esteem that they see no reason to live anymore because they believe they burden everyone around them. This shouldn't be so, and it's completely unfair for it to ever occur. I hope one day everyone can at least attempt to understand how bullying affects people to their core, not just for a split second.