I was in the 4th grade when I experienced my first bullying experience. I was told that I bathed in mud puddles, that I looked like a boy, called ugly and fat on a daily basis and had brutal words thrown into my face that I will not say here. I was bullied. Everyday at school. I thought it would get better as I got older, but it just got worse. The name calling extended to people disrespecting my family, making fun of my brother for his bi-polar disability, calling out names infront of school teachers in the classroom, and taunting me with unshakeable phrases. I cried, I cried everynight, that's the only way I could get to sleep. I can't count how many times I came home and told my mother I'd be better off dying. Thanks to the love and support of my family, I got through it all. Suicide is NOT an option anyone should include in their lives. Physical harm is not something anyone should think about. Bullying is not something anyone should experience. With countless meetings with the principals, school counsellors, nurses and teachers, nothing changed. The bullying continued. In grade 7, I switched schools. It worked, until the bullying started up again in highschool. I am now 19 years old, and a true believer that EVERYONE deserves a friend. I would be more than happy to be anyone's friend, young or old, boy or girl, straight, bi, gay, black, white. I don't care about your sexuality, religion, gender or culture. It doesn't matter what you look like, or how you think, if you're nice to me, I'll return the kindness. I go out of my way to teach kids in my neighbourhood to stick up for themselves and encourage them to tell someone. That someone can be me. I have ears, and I'm willing to listen. I have a heart, and I would love to share it. Please don't be a bully...and please, don't be a bystander. Be a believer. Stick up for yourself, and others.