Real Teens Speak Out

Chelsi’s Story

I have grown up in a small school system filled with many different types of people. I am now a sophmore now, but I have been a victim of bullying since seventh grade. Really, I’m no different than any other teenager in the world. I like to have good, clean fun. I’m not interested in drugs, alcohol, bullying, or anything else that could hurt me, or someone else. I’m a cheerleader, track runner, softball player, student council member, my class secretary, involved in pageants, and my community. I always felt like I had it all together, and there was no reason why I should have been bullied. But the truth still remains, I WAS, AND STILL AM BULLIED. I felt like I had no true friends that would be there for me through thick and thin. I went through depression, and am still going to counseling to this day. I have learned that I didn’t neccesarily do anything to get bullied. Now I stand up for people I see are getting bullied, or i go find an adult for help. I have found friends at a nearby school rather than surrounding myself with the negative influences in mine. I am becoming the person I always wanted to be, a happy, fun-loving, 15 yr old girl, that has it all, but isn’t afraid to ask for help.

Bullying Feels…

When you’re bullied, it feels like something was taken away from you. That’s your self-confidence. Bullying also makes you feel singled out and abandoned, even though you’re not the only one in this kind of struggle.

Bullies

Bullies are mean.
They’re not very cool.
Most bullies
Bully at school.

They leave bruises,
Scars, and breaks, too.
They’re very hurtful,
They make you blue.

You lose spirit, focus,
And your dreams.
Bullies love it
When you scream.

Even though
You’re scared to tell,
It’s not tattling,
It’s helping you as well.

Not Okay

Some may say, "It happens."
Some may say, "It’s not me."
But others say, "It really hurts!"
It can hurt on the outside,
But also it hurts within.
It hurts different people in a different way.
No, bullying is not okay.

Bullying Feels…

Bullying is what you can’t see,
Bullying, it hurts me.
Any form of bullying is very bad,
Bullying makes people sad.
Bullying, it hurts people, too,
Bullying, it makes people feel blue.
Bullying can drive people mad,
And cause them to do something very bad.
In some cases the people get hurt,
In other ones they just kick dirt.
Remember bullying makes people feel hated,
And you don’t want to be the one frustrated.

I Am Unique

Normal,
Different,
But people say,
That I’m one of them,
An everyday Plain Jane.

They lie, I know it,
Feel it,
See it.
It’s on my IEP
My "Individual Education Plan".
See?

I will give you a clue to help,
Mentally Challenged,
Spastic.
What? Still stumped?
Okay, fine, this is it…
Autistic.

Cliques

I think cliques are a big part of bullying within girls throughout middle school. Gossip is another thing that hurts people, along with rumors. Gossip and rumors are something that girls often start because they might be jealous of another girl, or they just decide to target a girl because they might not be “cool enough”. I think excluding other people is something that goes on as well. I think cliques, gossip, rumors, jealousy, and excluding are main forms of bullying among girls in middle school.

Rumors

Girls don’t physically bully, they mentally bully. They attack the girls’ weaknesses, and keep putting them down. I always hear girls talking behind each others back. Laughing or making fun of like the weird girl or making up mean rumors that aren’t true. They might not let someone hang out with them or let them and treat them horribly. Sometimes they boss others around because they think they are cooler than you.

Bullying Is…

Walking down the hall and someone glares at you. You ask your BFF why she glared at you. Also bullying could be someone ditching or not hanging with you. Not paying attention to someone.

Gossip

I think the worst type of being mean is gossip like where somebody gets mad at you because they heard that you said something (when you didn’t) so they started a rumor and even when I tell her that I didn’t do anything and they keep doing it.