hope

I, too, was prey for the bullies that lurked the middle school halls. Mostly verbal abuse, but even some physical. The verbal abuse consisted mostly of bashing my physical appearance and speaking about my parent’s financial situations (we didn’t have the most money, but we happily made do). It’s something about the physical bullying that will always be engraved in my brain. I remember it like it happened yesterday. I was switching out books in my locker, which was on the bottom, when my top locker partner comes up behind me and starts violently kicking me and telling me to hurry. I just sat there and allowed him to kick me. I tried to laugh it off and open my lock as fast as possible to please him. Kids surrounding us were laughing. I didn’t mention it until a few weeks later. Luckily, I had a very caring 6th grade teacher who I will always remember. During those times, it was so easy to go along with the bullying crowd. I mean anything to get them off your back right? That is not what you should do. Remember kindness is always what you should strive for. The bullies will look back on those years of bullying and regret every second of it and feel shame and guilt for the awful things they’ve done, but you will remember that you kept composure, and most importantly, that you were kind. Please stay strong in this cruel world.