I was never keen about bullying. It all started at the beginning of elementary school. I could not make friends and was targeted by bullies because of my height, size, and weight. I was made fun of because I was shorter and chubbier than the rest of my classmates. I was also teased about my glasses. I had a hard time making friends because I was very shy. I was called names, put down, spat on, pushed, shoved, and hit by other students. Also, during my years in elementary school, my mother abandoned my father, siblings, and I. That had a big influence and impact on me and my experiences because it made me feel even more depressed when I was picked on.

The bullying became worse as time went on. I wanted it all to stop but it didn’t. I ignored the bullies because I did not want to fight back. I did not tell any adults because I was passive and scared. When I entered seventh grade, the bullying got worse. I felt sad and angry and wanted to curse at the bullies, but I never did. Instead, I used my imagination to help make most of my pain and stresses go away. My imagination made me feel better and safe. In my imagination I was in an adventure in a far away land where I could do anything I wanted to.
During summer vacation after seventh grade, I got tired of the bullying and fought back for the first time. That summer, I was enrolled in summer camp to meet new people and make friends. Unfortunately, during those three weeks of summer camp, I experienced much pain because a group of boys teased and made fun of me non-stop every day. I eventually told my guardians and teacher what had happened. However, the teacher only gave the bullies a warning and made me feel like I was making a big deal out of nothing. In the second week, one of the bullies even stole my things and lied about it. I felt like the teacher did not care to enforce the rules against bullying when I told them about the bullying and they only gave the bullies a warning. I wished the teacher was more authoritarian and disciplined the bullies when they could.

One day I finally caved and threw some cards that the bullies teased me with back at them. The teacher gave me a warning and called my parents. I was frustrated because I thought it was unfair that when the bullies turned around and told on me, the teacher called my parents but did not do that when I was the victim time and time again. After that incident my guardians allowed me to drop out of summer camp which made me happy because they supported me and agreed that the teacher was unfair.

In the eighth grade, I continued to be bullied except this time other students hid, took, stole my things, played keep away, tap me on the shoulders, and threw things at me. I was glad that it was finally was over when I graduated from middle school. It felt like I had woken up from a long nightmare. When I was in the ninth grade there was no longer bullies bothering me. I also made wonderful friends which made me happy. They helped me and stood up for me when I needed it the most. Sadly, I had to change school because we moved.

In my opinion, bullying is wrong and terrible. From my experience, bullies gather together and there is always one who acts as the autocratic leader and manipulates the others to pick on their victims. I was told from my guardians that bullies have trouble at home and they cause trouble to make themselves feel better, but I think that is a poor excuse. Bullies have multiple reasons to bully; however, it is no excuse to do so. Bullying is sad and I do not feel sorry for the bullies. Sometimes I wonder if the bullies have any regrets or remorse for what they do because they should. Bullies can hurt victims emotionally, physically, and mentally.

Bullying is a problem everywhere. Adults and parents should be more involved to help their children from being victimized by the bullies. Sometimes the victims may become unstable or turn into a bully themselves. It was my imagination that kept being me from turning into an aggressive person and perhaps a bully myself. I also learned to talk to adults when something happens, and learned that some adults will support me while other will not but I am glad I have someone to turn to.