Everyone knew me. I was considered "popular", but that never stopped the bullying. I was bullied from 3rd up to 8th grade for being, "fat" and "different". Being called "Hippo" because I wasn't as skinny as other girls and some of my teeth were smaller than others. I hated myself. I swam, so I had a different body type than most girls. I was bigger, had more muscle mass than a cheerleader or a volleyball player. But did anyone take that into consideration? Absolutely not. People yelled at me from across the cafeteria saying how i shouldn't be eating, I should go "puke out the fat" in me. I was never a victim of physical abuse, only verbal. All of the yelling got to me, and I did it. I stopped eating as much, lost a lot of weight, and it got to the point where I was miserable. Some of my closer friends noticed, and got me help. The help only got me so far. There were still the people making fun of me because I was in band, that I hung out with the "nerds", that I loved singing and acting, and that I wasn't in a "real sport". It got to the point where I started to self harm, and at multiple times considered ending my life. I realized how horrible people can be, especially to a lot of my band members. No one got to know us how we knew each other, we loved each other. That's how I got through it all. Once I experienced living overseas and people accepted you for who you are, I realized that although your different, it doesn't mean you're a bad person. No one deserves the comments or the put downs. I, for one, am happy that I can say, I defeated the bullies. I'm in college now, happy that I'm still here. I do feel bad for kids in elementary to high school because kids are mean. If there's anything I learned, I'd have to say, when you see it, stop it. Nobody is perfect, and normal is overrated. Stand up for that person. Be the one to stop bullying. It only takes one.