My name is Alex and I am currently 17 going on 18 years on on February 15th 2016! I started recognizing my being bullied in 6th grade, people would call me names they would say I was fat, a loser, a freak, a weirdo, and as my middle school years went on so did the names and as I grew the bullying grew, by 8th grade I was being called lesbian which for my time was shamed upon, I was being called a whore and a slut which being I am going on 18 and haven't lost my virginity I would say I am definitely not. Though I actually knew I was non of these things it all being repeated got into my head and I started to believe it, because of this, I ended up self harming by 8th grade and by 9th I was also starving myself, making myself get sick, and trying to end my life. No one knew about it till my sophomore year of high school, in high school I was being told I was worthless and that no one would care if I died and that I should end my life, and added physical bullying also. I'm glad I got found out because I did get help and though I am still bullied I know better what to do about it and have the abilities I need to deal with any of it. Now I have friends and recently participated in a pageant which really I used to signify to myself that all of this is really behind me for good and now I couldn't be happier or more confident in myself. It has been a struggle, yes, has, thought will never fully go away but that can also be take as a good thing too, i am stronger then I have ever been before and with all of this now in my past I can do so much more now and I am so excited for what lies ahead for me! I partly thank my bullies because if it wasn't for them then I wouldn't be anywhere close to as strong as I am now if I hadn't gone through all of what they put me through. Though not saying bullying is good and I will always stand with the kids being bullied and do my best to help them, I do think there does have to be some kids that have to be put through the tests of bullying so they can be like all of us here and help generations to come.