When I was born, part of my brain didn't developed. I was also born with a eye condition that makes my eyes look like cateyes. The bullying started in about the second grade. It was mostly name calling until I reached the third grade. Then it became physical. The kids formed circles around me and took turns beating me up. When I reached the sixth grade, I was riding the bus where bullying occurred. I was hit, kicked, my hair was pulled, and my nose broken many times. While at school I was often the victim of public ridicule. By the time I got out of grade school, I had been driven out of three public schools and a private school. The private school was supposed to be different. The bullying took the shape of rumors and vain beliefs. The kids accused me of being a homosexual and I was harassed daily by the kids. Eventually, I was kicked out of school because of the suspicions of being homosexual. Because of the bullying, my mom decided to move instead of allowing me to attend Jr high in the area. The bullying took on yet another ugly face. I was victimized by gangs. Had knives pulled on me, sticks, bats and someone tried to run over me in his car. Friends of mine started teaching me the martial arts. I had to learn how to defend myself. The bullying came to a head when I faced down a gang alone. Someone pulled a pipewrench on me and I was forced to protect myself. I easily defeated the guy and became known as the karate kid. The bullying in Jr high school almost killed me but I made it through. Today I am 48 yrs old and am an accomplished poetry writer. I have been published nationally and internationally.