Ever since I started school, I was bullied. It started off small in elementary school but once middle school came the problem became much more serious. I was targeted and victimized by kids just because I was different than them. I was verbally abused and publicly humiliated in front of all my peers.  But the problem didn't go away when I left school grounds. It followed me home through social networking. I would get messages online getting called a faggot and other mean names from kids in my school. I would then report these problems to the teachers, guidance counselors, vice principals, and principal at my school but nothing was solved. I even went to the police at one point because I was that desperate for the bullying to stop. I would go online and read about kids who had finally given in to the pain of being bullied and committed suicide, and I was determined not to be one of those kids. I leaned heavily on my mother, who would go to my school every day and raise hell on administrators. However, the problem was still unsolved. My mother had arranged a few meetings with the superintendent of my school district and ultimately the decision was made that for the last 2 months of my eighth grade year, I had the option of getting home schooled. However, around this time, the movie "Bully" came out and changed my life completely. I saw that there were other kids who went through this problem and inspired me to take a stand. I refused to let the bullies win. I finished out the last 2 months of school and then enrolled into a catholic high school, where I have since made great friends that I am willing to trust with my life. But out of everyone in this whole story, my mother is the one who I owe the most gratitude. There is nothing this amazing woman wouldn't do for me in my time of need. I look back on my eighth grade year with mixed emotions. I went through some very hard times but I wouldn't be the strong person I am today if it wasn't for it. And to the kid who bullied me for 8 long hard years, I would like say HA! I win! You tried your hardest to beat me down and you couldn't! I guess you know now which one of us is the real tough guy! One more thing. To kids reading this and are going through what I went through, I am living proof that it gets better. Just hang on and you WILL be way past gone.