Real Teens Speak Out

Drown out the noise

In January this year, I decided to publish my first song. It didn’t take long for it to be noticed by the kids at school, and soon they started to make fun of me and my music. This really hurt because people created an Instagram page to make fun of me on, and also made comments about it all the time at school. It had eventually made me start having frequent emotional breakdowns and only worsened my depression that I already had. It eventually got the the point where the smallest things upset me, and eventually I had threatened to harm myself. After my parents talked to me, I decided to publish another song called No More Noise which talks about tuning out people who make fun of you. So please remember that if you need to talk to somebody, don’t wait. Go and find somebody ASAP. And also, if people make fun of you, just remember, haters are admirers in denial. So don’t let them get to you, drown out the noise.

From Invisible to Visible: A Journey of Healing and Empowerment

Growing up, I always thought childhood games like hide-and-seek were supposed to be filled with laughter and friendship. But there was one day that changed everything for me. I was left alone in a tiny closet, locked away while the rest of the group continued the game, completely forgetting I was even there. At first, I thought I had won, but as time passed, I realized I was invisible, forgotten by those I thought were my friends. That moment of being left in the dark became the metaphor for much of my childhood, where I felt unseen and unimportant.

The bullying I faced wasn’t loud or obvious—it was covert. For years, two of my “friends” wove a web of humiliation around me, making me feel like I didn’t matter, and this constant emotional assault chipped away at my sense of self-worth. Eventually, this pain manifested in panic attacks, a deep feeling of being trapped in my own life. It took me a long time to realize that I was not just the victim of these bullying incidents, I had been allowing myself to stay stuck in that role. That realization became the beginning of my journey to reclaim my power.

The path to healing wasn’t easy. For me, it started with creative expression. At the age of 11, I turned to the performing arts, particularly acting and dance, as a way to express what I couldn’t say with words. The stage became my sanctuary, where I could step out of my own pain and take up space in a way that was freeing. It was through dance that I learned to take up space and feel worthy of it, and through theater, I found a voice that had been silenced for so long.

As I grew older, I began to understand that my journey wasn’t just about healing my own wounds, it was about helping others find their voices too. By 13, I was taking on leading roles, from Mary Poppins to Joan of Arc, and these characters taught me not only to embody strength but also to have empathy for those who may have hurt me. I began to see the bigger picture: that bullies are often hurting too, and their actions are a reflection of their own pain.

Now, I use my voice to empower others, especially teens, to take a stand for themselves. My work is rooted in the belief that when we transform our hurt into creative pursuits, we not only heal ourselves but also become a beacon of light for others who may feel invisible. I encourage young people to find their outlet for self-expression, whether it’s through art, sports, or even just talking openly about their experiences. Our stories matter, they are powerful, and when we share them, we connect, heal, and change the narrative.

I once believed I was invisible. But now, I know my worth, and I’ve learned to shine. From that dark closet to the stage of my life, my mission is to show others that they too can move from invisible to visible, from fear to freedom. I stand here not just for myself, but for anyone who feels like they don’t matter, because you do. You always have.

Watch my full TEDx Talk, “Powerful Lessons from a Bullied Teen,” to hear more of my story and how creative expression helped me heal: https: //www.youtube.com / watch?v= e-ryQewOLrc

Bullied for being gay

I’m in middle school, and I got bullied for being gay. I am gay, but I tried to hide it. My brother, who became one of my bullies, shared this information with the school and my friends. My friends ended up abandoning me, and some bullies pinned me down and made me kiss a girl, beat me up, and sent me to the hospital with two fractured ribs and a broken tailbone. The teachers bullied too and called me gaybo gaybo mr fago so i coudn’t even talk to any trusted adults. I also got bullied for how big my lips were.

struggling to fit in

when i was 13 years old i was bullied for the way i looked and the way i do things. In my middle school i use to have a friend group but it went all wrong when the teasing and jokes turn into bullying. I was called fat by my so called friends and in middle school i was accused of a lot of things. I remember in 8th grade i was accused for something i didn’t do so i was punched on the cheek really where there was a bruise on my cheek. in high school the bullying continues people would post rumors about me on social media. Nobody wanna hear my side of the story i was alone and i couldn’t tell anyone about it. Then my 10th grade came it was the worse year of my life where i was put in a choke hold because i had my stuff stolen. Then I’m in 11th grade bullying is still happening i struggle to find friends i been made fun of it because of my disability. I wonder to my life will i ever fit in.

it gets better

When I was in Year 6,I was teased for being overweight, nerdy, sensitive and obnoxious. My stuff was stolen and damaged, and sometimes people left rotten stuff in my tote tray. Whenever someone was in a group with me, they’d throw a tantrum and I’d just stand there like ‘are u done yet?’. Then my friends left me and I really felt alone.
And they joined in too 🙁
But I learnt some stuff that really helped me get through those days.
1-Ifgnore what people say, what they think of you really doesn’t matter
2-Focus on YOU and don’t change for others
3-Eat well and sleep well
4-Do what makes you happy, not what makes someone else happy
5-Be grateful for everything, you don’t know when you’ll lose everything

Fortunately I’m in Year 7 now. I lost 10 kg and I’m happy with my weight. I have a small group of really kind, supportive friends. I’m in the smart kids class and am finally feeling intellectually challenged.
If I had one thing to say,it’s this: It does get better, and in reality, this is all a test.
Bye 😀

deaf but not dead

I’m 13 and have been the target of most kids anger and rage since i was four years old because i’m noticeably shorter and weaker. i grew up in a household where i never got the chance to talk about my situation at school and out of school. once elementary school ended, the bullying became more physical, more direct, and more cruel. from grade six to seven, i attended a private school where i was the student most mocked and humiliated in class. i had gotten two concussions in a month, maggots thrown at me, kicked, and things repeatedly thrown at me. the concussions resulted in me having significant hearing loss which i still struggle with today (deafness), i have trouble hearing and have pretty severe tinnitus. i’m in grade 8 now and at a public school where i still get beat up and bullied everyday, but i’m starting to now see that i have to tell someone in order for it to stop. i’m pushing myself to be brave and not listen to what people say about me negatively. and i’m still recovering from suicidal thoughts and behaviours, but there was a point where i thought it would never get better, and if you feel like that just know that it will. we’re still kids and young adults, it’ll get better. i never thought i’d make it out alive, but i did, and you can too. if you don’t feel loved, just know i love you even if i don’t know you. stay strong.

The bullying and the hate you give

I’ve have always been a shy chills you see I have a few disabilities and it can be very hard for me school. when I was younger was great but when I got into 7th grade everything changed. my best friend had moved out of my school. I was sad I had another friend but eventually he left too and he began to bully me my entire year of 7th grade it was absolutely horrible. people would laugh at me in the hallways it felt as though everyone in my school hated me but my x friend was the worst he was so rude to me. he would get other people to laugh at me in the hallways and would cyber bully me a lot. this was hard for me especially at this time because some of my family members had been sick in the hospital so I’d be home crying my eyes out everyday. eventually Covid happened and that’s what saved me from all the bullying. then 8th grade came around and I met some new friends. but it turns out they were all fake friends and turned against me and sides with my ex best friend. they bullied mercilessly and cyber bully me all the time. I remember my breaking point is when they made death threats to me and began telling me each day to kill myself. it was horrible. I eventually got help and the police almost got involved it was that bad bc I was being cyber bullied. but the dean of students helped me and my counselor helped bring the bullying to a stop. the bullies got in trouble badly. They luckily all left 8th grade and there is another bullying story I have about my junior year but that’s for another day. I’m a senior now and things are okay. I have friends in theater now but I still think about my bullies at times and it helped me grow as a person. just know you’re not alone and to keep going and know that there’s always light at the end of darkness.

i had a friend that i had been close with for seven years, then during covid she becomes close with the guy, i make it clear that we will never be friends, but friends of friends. anyways we grow close and start hanging out, this was all fine except every so often he would just become soooo rude to me. then 2 years ago he started to split me and my friend up. then a year and half ago when school started again after the summer i go back to school and my friend doesnt say a word to me, both of them laugh at me, ignore me. the guy since has been saying rude things whenever i go into the room, and constantly shoving me, pushing me, and breaking my stuff. i ve told my friends and they do nothing because hes their friend too, and my parents just get mad that i havent sorted things out with my friend. the night before my birthday she cornered me and basically talked for 2 hours saying that it was all my fault. then today i was walking to talk to another of my friends and he comes past me and shoves me into the wall, i get upset tell my friend and then as we walk down the lockers he says that hes going to this party tonight that i was meant to go. so then i tell my friend that if he goes, i wont. i am just soooo sick of him ruining the last 2 years of high school, and none of my friends do anything, and my parents just say take it up with the teachers but i know that it would only make it worse

sticks

I was only thirteen when we moved houses, and I walked through the doors of my new school feeling determinedly excited. When you are one of the few openly gay girls, word of it spreads fast.

I wasn’t interested in any of the girls in my class, but I still thought the world of them. I saw how they could be smart, and charismatic, and had the kind of potential that would change lives. One of them tried to break my arm between two desks during class, and another told me she wished I would die. I showed my arm to the only teacher that made me feel safe; she waved me away and told me that we both needed to be nicer to each other. This treatment followed me to each school I transferred to.

It sticks with you forever, being targeted and dismissed by both peers and teachers. I’m in college now, and I still grapple with the imprint of my formative experiences. One of my best friends, a woman, recently put her hand on my shoulder to tell me a story and I almost flinched away out of a subconscious fear that I was making her uncomfortable, and even more terribly, that I might be dirtying her hand. At the end of her story she pulled me in for a ginormous hug, and I didn’t feel the need to pull away anymore.

You’ll soon find that love sticks with you too, and your pain doesn’t define what your future will become. After everything, I have friends and family who work very hard to make me feel loved and show me it’s okay to love them back. People will find you, they will love you, and they will put their hand on your shoulder to tell you a story.

Just hold on in the meantime, I am cheering for you, please stay safe.

The start of my depression

The bullying started on my first day of 6th grade in a new school, some girls decided to corner me in the bathroom. They said that my hair was ugly and tangled and they told me I looked like a guy. That honestly hurt my feelings because I’ve never had anyone talk down on me like that. They picked on me for that whole year and one day I just decided I was over it and I fought back. They haven’t messed with me since but they did cause some serious mental health issues. You aren’t alone.