Hello. My name is Vanessa. I was a victim of bullying. It all started in seventh grade in a school called Gila Vista. I wasn't pretty or skinny like the other girls, but I was me and I was happy with it. Later on in my first days of 7th grade I ended up seeing my best friends, who I hadn't seen since 2nd grade. I was happy that I had them. I also had my cousin to hang out with too. Everyday during the lunch period I would sit with either my friends or my cousin and her friends. When I sat with my cousin and her friends I noticed the way her friends looked me. Like I wasn't good enough. So I just continued to ignore it, but each day I ignored it, it only got worse. About 3 months into my school year I had decided to join choir. The teacher asked me to sing to see what group to put me into. I started singing and I heard snickering coming from some of the girls. They were laughing at my singing. I tried to ignore it. It wasn't very easy anymore. Luckily the bell rang to go to a different class. So I hurried to my next class, PE, unfortunately I had those girls in my class. PE went ok. After PE I headed to the cafeteria to meet some friends for afterschool program. On my way there I was surrounded by 15-17 girls. Some of those girls I had choir with. The leader came up to me and knocked my glasses of my face, which flew a few feet away from me. I was just standing there with the leader in front of me and her gang around me. I didn’t try to fight back, for if I did, I would of got beat bad. All I heard was someone telling the leader to hit me. She ignored it. She stared at me, glaring. Before she could make her move I ran, grabbed my glasses, and took off for the cafeteria. When I got there I was scared and my second best friend, not knowing what happened, pretended to hit me in the face, which she didn't  I started crying. She asked me what was wrong and I told her. After we got inside we signed in and then I was approached by my cousin. She knew what happened. She told me to go to my Nana’s house with her. I told her I couldn't  because I had my program and my mom was gonna pick me up afterwards. She said fine and walked out. Thinking I was going to be ok with teachers in the cafeteria, me and my second best friend sat down at a table. Not long after we were surrounded by the gang. They had come back to get me. I sat there looking at the table, regretting not going home with my cousin. Next thing I know Is that the leader was back in my face with her fist pulled back. Then I heard my second best friend say something over and over. She was telling the leader to hit me in the face. I was shocked, never would I have thought she would betray me like that. Immediately after hearing that I hoped a teacher would come help, but they never did. I sat there, silently praying for a miracle to come save me.  Shortly after I heard the leader mumble “dang. It’s her mom.” , I looked over to the doors and saw my cousin had come back with my Nana, Tata and my older cousin. I was relieved. The gang took off, knowing they couldn't hit me with my family present.  I got up and hugged my saviors. I was close to tears. We got in the car and head home. I called my mom and explained what had happened. She went to my Nana’s house a while after I got there. Then I went home. The next day I was called into the office and had to talk to a policeman. He asked me what faces I remember. I told him three people that I recognized from pictures he was showing me. I was hoping he would expel them, but he didn't  He merely gave them a strike mark. I was upset. I went to class again. Then was called back shortly after. My dad was there signing me out. He was transferring me to a different school. I was relieved. I went and gathered my stuff, told my friends, except my ex second best friend, goodbye and hugged them. I explained to my cousin and she hugged me tightly. She was my hero.  Now I’m in a new school in 10th grade. I have amazing friends, met awesome people, and am as happy as can be. If it wasn't for my cousin, I don’t know where I’d be. That’s my bullying story.