I was bullied in school for several reasons. I was in a lower socioeconomic bracket; I was emotionally immature and highly sensitive; I had ugly clothes and very curly hair. Kids called me a lot of different names and it was painful. I developed low self-esteem and lost the courage to speak. I still have social anxiety. I wasn't born with it...it was learned. I have forgiven ALL my tormentors. It was a long long time ago, and kids can be cruel. Just as I needed to grow up and mature, so did they, and it doesn't help me to hold a grudge. It doesn't help anyone. These same children have grown up into caring individuals and have children of their own. My only concern at this point is to help my children get through school and not have to deal with being bullied, and also, to make sure they don't do the bullying. We can't do anything in the 'now' if we spend too much time in the past. If bullying has affected our lives, we should be proactive and try to make a difference.