Were you ever bullied in school for being overweight? How di

PhatAndy

I've been bullied for as long as I can remember. I've always been a chunky kid, it runs in my family, and also being abnormally smart and into books makes you a target. It was even subversive from certain family members and teachers who only made it worse. I however, also have a temper, and due to being bullied - if you push me too far, I tend to push back.

Examples, you ask?
- I put a kid in a headlock in 2nd grade and made him pass out because he called me fat.
- I threw a pencil at a kid in 4th grade because he called me a whale.

- Junior high was bad - that awkward time when you're not grown into your body yet and your greasy, with bad hair and bad clothes. I was seriously depressed and never smiled. I barely spoke.

Examples from high school:
- I was sexually harassed and bullied by an upperclassmen in 9th grade. I took it up the chain of command, because I wasn't the only one, and they refused to do anything about it because he was an athlete. I told them that if he did it again and I felt threatened I would take action to protect myself and if they tried to punish me, I would sue. This kid got up in my face, spit in my face, and called me a fat B and asked me if I wanted to get F'd in the A. I shoved him through two rows of desks in to a wall so hard I knocked the wind out of him and gave him a knot in the back of his head. I told him if he spoke to me again, I'd cut off his member and shove it done his throat. I also got him fired from his place of employment.
- When I was a Junior, a Senior in my class walked up behind me with a wad of masking tape and stuck it in my hair. After I sat there and pulled it out, I got duct tape, walked up behind him and slapped him in the back of the head so hard, I slammed his face into his desk. I then smeared the duct tape in his hair. He had glue in his hair the rest of the day.
- Finally when I was a Senior, a guy who was a wrestler in the heaviest weight division (at least 380) called me Fatty McMitchell (my maiden name) when I was leaving a class and he was coming into it. Never mind the fact that we both couldn't fit through the door. I looked at the kid and said, in front of a teacher "Shut the F up Lou." That's the Fat a** pot calling the F'n kettle black" Now sit down in a desk, if you can fit." The teacher laughed.

I'll be honest, I look back on these situations and while I know my actions are really no better than theirs, I'm proud that I was able to stand up for myself. But those scars never heal, and no matter how skinny I get, how fit I get - I'll always be the fat little girl on the playground no one wanted to play with. I just wish people knew the damage they do to others....

I am glad you were able to stand up for yourself! And you seem to be doing amazing with your weight loss journey! Keep it up.

PhatAndy

Not bullied at school, but I took some blows from dance. My company teacher would stop the music and tell me to suck in my stomach before we began again. Some of the other girls said they were mad we couldn't wear mid drift tops because of me and a few other girls. Lastly, I heard whispering how I looked pregnant in my leotard.

Hated it.

How has it affected you today? What kind of person are you?

PhatAndy

One of my first moments of being bullied happened in kindergarten. An older child (2nd or 3rd grade) who was BIG sat on me because "I was fat". I rememeber going home bawling to my Mom because first of all this really heavy child SAT on me and he tore my picture I'd made for her, and I was being called mean names by all the boys in the back of the bus.

I used to get "thunder thighs" "Free Willy" "fatty" "Fatso" all that ****. It got a little better in HS, a lot of the boys were too busy chasing after cute girls to bother too much. But it still happened enough that I never did let my guard down.

I used to skip lunch every day until my senior year because I didn't want anyone making fun of me for eating. Even though we all have to eat, I felt like I wasn't allowed because I KNEW someone would say/think something mean.

How has this affected you to this date? What kind of person are you now?

PhatAndy

I was bullied all my life. From the time I was 9 to a couple of years ago. I cut out people from my life and since have been afraid to post in chatrooms, or on social networking sites [like Myspace and Facebook] because of the pain I get when I think about all I went through. I recall cutting myself when I was around 13 and crying myself to sleep every night wanting to die. I hated my life.

Today, I don't associate myself with a lot of people - I literally have ONE best friend and that is it apart from my family, and the pain and depression is one of the reasons why I am here trying to make my life better.

Dont give up! theres a light at the end of the tunnel i promise you. your story touches me.

Kenzietea2

I was sexually harassed endlessly in middle school. I developed early, boys in middle school are starting to develop as well, which was a bad combo. It was 3 years of hell. High school more girls caught up with me, and boys started to have some self control, which allowed me to blend in with the crowd.

I thought that sucked, but reading some of these stories I feel lucky. I have no idea how or why bullying like this happens. Makes me scared for my unborn baby.

PhatAndy

Oh my God, that's a horrible story. But it's true, those experiences will make you a stronger person by 100 times.

I used to get bullied a lot during early high school. I wasn't remotely confident, I'd never stand up for myself and just let every little or not-so-little comment slide by - no matter how much it hurt. I used to get called every name under the sun - fat, lardass, tubster, obesity, "roller", ugly, man, bigfoot, elephant, and all the other childish names ranging to the rude ones I won't write here. There were two particular boys who found it hilarious to throw hardbacks and rulers at the back of my head during every RE and maths class, and on a residential trip they decided it would be funny to spray all my deodorant and perfumes onto my pillow despite knowing I was an asthmatic, as well as soaking all my towels and dumping them on the mattress and under my duvet every night. When they were eventually spoken to, they actually said to the tutor that "monster girls shouldn't sleep, they should be out reaping", not that that makes any sense whatsoever. I'm not even entirely sure what I did to deserve all that grief besides being myself, but then some people are just nut jobs I guess.

But out of all that, I'm still here, I still have loads of friends and my family, so why focus on the negative past, when I've got such a bright future ahead? Childish people always get their comeuppance in the end anyway, right?

Amazing! and great weight loss so far

KaraH425

Im curious to see how many out there share my same story,

Were you overweight in Elementary school? High school? Were you the target for bullying? How did you overcome it and how does it affect your life today?

For me it was Bulling grade 2-12 and until i was about 21 or so. the height of it being in grade 9, cornered in the boys lockerroom and surrounded by 6 guys with basketballs. "We are about to do this to you because you are fat, you are ugly, you will never get a girlfriend, and you should kill yourself" They then proceeded to throw basketballs at my head until i bled out of my ears..


I know it got bad, but I kind of thank God for my crappy life. because its the things in life that form you into who you are today.

Most people who got bullied (Or at least the ones I know) turn out to be Sweet Compassionate Loving Sensitive people.

So my question is, Have you ever been bullied and how have you overcome?

Oh wow, this reminds me of me! Except I was in 4th grade, surrounded by a group of 8 or so girls in the school's gym, all holding basketballs - the ringleader would yell "1....2....3....Blubberball!" and they'd all whip their basketball at me, all gleefully chanting "ugly ugly Blubberball!!!" Went on for about 10 minutes until the gym teacher came back (they had a lookout so they didn't get caught). One of the more horrifying moments of my life. I never told anyone about it - a few years ago, I was talking to my mom about various stuff, this instance included, that had happened to me growing up, and she was horrified, asked why I didn't tell her about it. In my head at the time, I had figured I'd just get in trouble - that it was my fault for being fat and I'd get yelled at again. And I didn't want my parents to be disappointed that their kid was a loser. Silly now, but that was my logic 20 years ago, lol.

How I overcame? Just waited it out. When I got to be an upperclassmen in HS, people just left me alone, and in college it was much better. I don't think I've ever really overcome all of it though, it kind of shaped parts of my personality - always feel awkward in social settings where I don't know many people, incredibly self-conscious, convinced everyone is noticing the extra weight, etc. I try to ignore it as best I can, but it's always in the back of my head.

All of that aside, I have a great group of friends whom I absolutely adore now and things haven't turned out all that badly for me!

lisapr123

No, I wasn't. My best friend was. The good news is she took it, used it to get really fit, and is now one of the strongest & fittest people I know.

Me, on the other hand.... I was JUST out running (at an 11 minute pace) when some redneck with a Confederate flag on his truck yelled from a PA system installed on his truck "Hey fat *kitten* get off my road" then proceeded to go around the block so he could do it again, this time with even more "descriptive" words.

They're all douche bags and we're stronger and smarter than they'll ever be.

eatmeingo

Oh, definitely. Boys always told me I was fat, and I never got any positive attention because of it. Girls would pinch at my fat changing for gym and laugh at me so much I just started changing in the toilet stalls and never stopped. In I think 9th grade, some girls behind me in the hall going to lunch told me to get my fatass out of the way. I didn't eat lunch that day. Or for months afterward. I can't say it was the only thing that triggered my ED initially, but it was definitely the moment of truth, so to speak. I still haven't gotten over that properly. It's just a ping pong match between binging for months and then starving to lose it all again. I hate it so much.

niightwind

Bullied, treated like complete crap, however you want to put it, yup.
I was hospitalized in grade 7 and came back with quite a bit of weight gain due to lack of exercise and just in general being depressed. I was to ill to go to school but when I returned in grade 8, I was bullied a lot. I felt I had no friends but I took the bullying because, in my opinion, they were right. 5'4'' and 195 pounds, I was the heaviest girl in my class. I also got various insults such as that my nose makes me look like a witch, and that even if I lost weight I'd still be an ugly pig.
By grade 10, the "teasing" as my councillor called it got worse. People physically attacked me more than once, and while I wanted to tell someone about it, my parents intimidated me. I felt (and still do) like if I told them what went on, they'd call me a failure and compare me to my sister who they say is dead to them, and that was the last thing I needed to hear. So I went through all of it on my own, my councillor's only encouragement being, "they're doing it to make you stronger. Its a lesson from God."
When a rumour started going out that I was pregnant - which, being a virgin, I obviously wasn't! - I couldn't take it anymore. People started calling me obscene names and some boys took it far enough to throw pennies at me and say that's all I was worth.
I dropped out. But I'm finishing my last year at home now [a bit late], though its hard with all the little encouragement that I get.

Not that it really matters. No one has ever cared in the past or will care in the future but I may as well vent a little on MFP. Life has, and will always, suck.

docturtle

I was bullied for being thin. The big girls in high school hated me cause I was tiny in high school. They threatened to kick my @$$ at every turn, in the bathroom, in the parking lot, on the bus, it seemed everywhere I went, there was a big girl who hated me for no reason! I didn't do anything to them and I wasn't even a flirt or a tease or anything like that! I was shy and kept to myself! It finally stopped when I had enough and agreed to fight the toughest one, even if she kicked my @$$, I wasn't going down without a fight! The bus driver broke it up before it got started, but the mere fact that I didn't turn away was enough to make them all leave me alone. It left me with a life-long feeling of steering clear of bigger girls because they intimidate me and I automatically think they don't like me, but I've been found to be wrong about that in my adult life.

fteale

I was bullied for being overweight even though I wasn't. How about that?

rbbrrmqn

Yes, not only verbally, but in horribly nasty notes shoved into my locker. Then I got beat up after that!! I did not go after people, either. I minded my own business.

One of the most frightening bully incidents I have had to endure was one time in a Kmart parking lot, as I was walking into the small mall to the store, I had a group of HS/college KIDS start chanting horrible things at me, they all came running at me, yelling and chanting that they were gonna kill me. They were pushing a cart towards me as they ran at me.
I was terrified bc it was a fairly good sized group. I ran for my life. All I had done was step out of my car and walk toward the store. I had NOT antagonized them or had contact with them in any way. I'll never forget that fear!!

I think it has def. made me stronger and more compassionate. I am a survivor--of CA 4X over!! And much, much 'bigger,' on the inside, than any one of those brainless idiots will EVER be!!

Cathnger

I was bullied my entire school life - I've always been a BIG Girl and I was bullied even when at nursery and Junior school so from as young as 3/4 years old. A lot of my child hood has been blocked out due to other scars of childhood. I remember once where I was only about 7/8 years old and I got attacked by 4 girls that were 2 years older than me when I was walking home from school. Name calling was the biggest thing mainly - me being such a sensative and emotional person it really took it's toll on me. When I was 11 years old and went up to high school - I had to wear Womens size 12 (UK) skirts. It was very embarassing and I had no self esteem - I hated gym/games not because I didn't like to play sports but because of the looks I'd get and comments that would be made and also I was scared and ashamed of how fat and unfit I was so I would lie any way I could to get out of doing it. Throughout my childhood I was very very unhappy and in my teenage years I was suicidal (unsucessfully of course hense I'm writing this now lol) I even had name calling from my morbidely obese father - he never meant them in a nasty way but he didn't ever think about how it may sound to an obese child. I even used to get bullied because my father was so big.

People wanting to be my friends didn't flock to me, in fact I only ever had 1 or 2 friends at a time and they never lasted - I would get really close to 1 and we would be best friends and I loved it BUT every time their 'old'' friends would always cause trouble and break us up and stop us from spending time together every chance they could. So when I was 14 upto right now of 28 I dont have any friends, I don't have phone of my own because I don't have anyone that would contact me. So life can get very hard at times. So what I will say is to every one of that has even 1 friend - be so thankful that you have them and appreciate them because unlike me and others we don't have anyone we can pick up the phone to.

annanoel21

I got bullied from k-10. When I got in high school I didnt care anymore about what people said. I tried to fit in the best I could. Stopped eating and lost 100 lbs. Very unhealthy. Got to a weight of 190 maintained at 200 for 3 years. I got to if anyone picked on me I would let them know they had an @$$ beating coming to them. Then it finally stopped after I let them know I wasnt gonna take their stuff.

PhatAndy

Im curious to see how many out there share my same story,

Were you overweight in Elementary school? High school? Were you the target for bullying? How did you overcome it and how does it affect your life today?

For me it was Bulling grade 2-12 and until i was about 21 or so. the height of it being in grade 9, cornered in the boys lockerroom and surrounded by 6 guys with basketballs. "We are about to do this to you because you are fat, you are ugly, you will never get a girlfriend, and you should kill yourself" They then proceeded to throw basketballs at my head until i bled out of my ears..


I know it got bad, but I kind of thank God for my crappy life. because its the things in life that form you into who you are today.

Most people who got bullied (Or at least the ones I know) turn out to be Sweet Compassionate Loving Sensitive people.

So my question is, Have you ever been bullied and how have you overcome?

Oh wow, this reminds me of me! Except I was in 4th grade, surrounded by a group of 8 or so girls in the school's gym, all holding basketballs - the ringleader would yell "1....2....3....Blubberball!" and they'd all whip their basketball at me, all gleefully chanting "ugly ugly Blubberball!!!" Went on for about 10 minutes until the gym teacher came back (they had a lookout so they didn't get caught). One of the more horrifying moments of my life. I never told anyone about it - a few years ago, I was talking to my mom about various stuff, this instance included, that had happened to me growing up, and she was horrified, asked why I didn't tell her about it. In my head at the time, I had figured I'd just get in trouble - that it was my fault for being fat and I'd get yelled at again. And I didn't want my parents to be disappointed that their kid was a loser. Silly now, but that was my logic 20 years ago, lol.

How I overcame? Just waited it out. When I got to be an upperclassmen in HS, people just left me alone, and in college it was much better. I don't think I've ever really overcome all of it though, it kind of shaped parts of my personality - always feel awkward in social settings where I don't know many people, incredibly self-conscious, convinced everyone is noticing the extra weight, etc. I try to ignore it as best I can, but it's always in the back of my head.

All of that aside, I have a great group of friends whom I absolutely adore now and things haven't turned out all that badly for me!

Im glad you have such good friends in your life!

PhatAndy

Oh, definitely. Boys always told me I was fat, and I never got any positive attention because of it. Girls would pinch at my fat changing for gym and laugh at me so much I just started changing in the toilet stalls and never stopped. In I think 9th grade, some girls behind me in the hall going to lunch told me to get my fatass out of the way. I didn't eat lunch that day. Or for months afterward. I can't say it was the only thing that triggered my ED initially, but it was definitely the moment of truth, so to speak. I still haven't gotten over that properly. It's just a ping pong match between binging for months and then starving to lose it all again. I hate it so much.

How has this affected your personality? your beautiful by the way, no joke.

PhatAndy

Yes, not only verbally, but in horribly nasty notes shoved into my locker. Then I got beat up after that!! I did not go after people, either. I minded my own business.

One of the most frightening bully incidents I have had to endure was one time in a Kmart parking lot, as I was walking into the small mall to the store, I had a group of HS/college KIDS start chanting horrible things at me, they all came running at me, yelling and chanting that they were gonna kill me. They were pushing a cart towards me as they ran at me.
I was terrified bc it was a fairly good sized group. I ran for my life. All I had done was step out of my car and walk toward the store. I had NOT antagonized them or had contact with them in any way. I'll never forget that fear!!

I think it has def. made me stronger and more compassionate. I am a survivor--of CA 4X over!! And much, much 'bigger,' on the inside, than any one of those brainless idiots will EVER be!!

Thats right!! wow, great story thanks!

eatmeingo

Oh, definitely. Boys always told me I was fat, and I never got any positive attention because of it. Girls would pinch at my fat changing for gym and laugh at me so much I just started changing in the toilet stalls and never stopped. In I think 9th grade, some girls behind me in the hall going to lunch told me to get my fatass out of the way. I didn't eat lunch that day. Or for months afterward. I can't say it was the only thing that triggered my ED initially, but it was definitely the moment of truth, so to speak. I still haven't gotten over that properly. It's just a ping pong match between binging for months and then starving to lose it all again. I hate it so much.

How has this affected your personality? your beautiful by the way, no joke.

I'm so shy now, and no matter how much weight I lose I don't feel good enough. /: Thank you, though.

Leanne_fat2fab

I was bullied from second grade up until I was about 19-20 years old. When I was a kid growing up it was extremely hard for me, especially since I developed an eating problem so early and I never knew why.. I was the tallest, and the biggest girl in most of my elementary classes. When I was 9 that's when it all went down hill. I was at the public pool with some kids and I was wearing a bathing suit.. I was starting to get stretchmarkes on my legs and the kids pointed, laughed the whole shabang. When I was 10 I started to wear bigger clothes just to hide it all. Middle school is when it got WAY worst. There was this ONE guy who punked me alllllllll thru middle and high school.. He even tried after high school.. He called me ugly, every fat name in the book... He threw breadsticks in my face telling me "I know you want it", he had a group of friend who weren't shy to jump in and talk crap. Once I was with one of my old friends and we were in the mall and these boys were standing there looking at us (her). They waved for me to come over... When I was walking over they ALL (like 5 or 6 guys) started laughing in my face and walked away. From that moment on I was determined I was everything everyone said I was. To make matters worse my mom was the the leader of the "put Leanne down" train so I was getting it at home, in public, at school and at that point I was VERY suicidal. I wore 3xl-6xl shirts everyday, I would wear HUGE jackets just for comfort.. During P.E. I never ever dressed in front of people, and i never wore shorts, only sweat pants..I never had a boyfriend in middle school let alone someone who liked me. When high school rolled around things didn't get any better. 9th grade was THEE worst year of high school. I was about 200lbs then.. In every class someone had something to say about me and my weight. It was terrible.. :-/ one guy said I looked like a man, another guy sounded like a man.. Kids are just as cruel as teenagers. Luckily I never really had issues with girls like some people did. The same guy that bullied me in middle school was at the same high school and we had a class together. At first I forgave him because he apologized to me so the nice person I was I accepted. Then he decided to Verbally attack me on the bus.. I don't think ive ever been so embarrassed.. That was my last straw!! I told the principal because It was getting out of hand and it stopped...high school got a little easier but I still was severly depressed. I made it thru high school only to go back to High school Aka my former job.. Working at Disneyland I was bullied as well. One guy told me that a shirt I was wearing looked like a curtain. I wasn't that pretty and crap like that. Now I don't really care what people have to say. Of course hurtful comments can sting but I don't let it take me over like it used to. EVERYTHING I've been thru has made me a tougher person. I'm starting to accept myself little by little. It is extremely difficult most days but im working on it. I will never allow someone to speak to me that way again. I can laugh at everything and everyone who ridiculed me because I better then ALL of that :-D

juicygurl1

yes i was! my nick name was Mickey Moose, and on halloween i was called a fat ugly cow with make up. took a very long time to stop crying over those comments; on the flip side, i think of the people who said this to me noticed them later in life..as we all grow up and wiser, i am successful and they are total loosers. With both careers, life and looks. Don't hold on to the negative feelings, let it go, and I promise you will grow strong from it.

PhatAndy

I was bullied from second grade up until I was about 19-20 years old. When I was a kid growing up it was extremely hard for me, especially since I developed an eating problem so early and I never knew why.. I was the tallest, and the biggest girl in most of my elementary classes. When I was 9 that's when it all went down hill. I was at the public pool with some kids and I was wearing a bathing suit.. I was starting to get stretchmarkes on my legs and the kids pointed, laughed the whole shabang. When I was 10 I started to wear bigger clothes just to hide it all. Middle school is when it got WAY worst. There was this ONE guy who punked me alllllllll thru middle and high school.. He even tried after high school.. He called me ugly, every fat name in the book... He threw breadsticks in my face telling me "I know you want it", he had a group of friend who weren't shy to jump in and talk crap. Once I was with one of my old friends and we were in the mall and these boys were standing there looking at us (her). They waved for me to come over... When I was walking over they ALL (like 5 or 6 guys) started laughing in my face and walked away. From that moment on I was determined I was everything everyone said I was. To make matters worse my mom was the the leader of the "put Leanne down" train so I was getting it at home, in public, at school and at that point I was VERY suicidal. I wore 3xl-6xl shirts everyday, I would wear HUGE jackets just for comfort.. During P.E. I never ever dressed in front of people, and i never wore shorts, only sweat pants..I never had a boyfriend in middle school let alone someone who liked me. When high school rolled around things didn't get any better. 9th grade was THEE worst year of high school. I was about 200lbs then.. In every class someone had something to say about me and my weight. It was terrible.. :-/ one guy said I looked like a man, another guy sounded like a man.. Kids are just as cruel as teenagers. Luckily I never really had issues with girls like some people did. The same guy that bullied me in middle school was at the same high school and we had a class together. At first I forgave him because he apologized to me so the nice person I was I accepted. Then he decided to Verbally attack me on the bus.. I don't think ive ever been so embarrassed.. That was my last straw!! I told the principal because It was getting out of hand and it stopped...high school got a little easier but I still was severly depressed. I made it thru high school only to go back to High school Aka my former job.. Working at Disneyland I was bullied as well. One guy told me that a shirt I was wearing looked like a curtain. I wasn't that pretty and crap like that. Now I don't really care what people have to say. Of course hurtful comments can sting but I don't let it take me over like it used to. EVERYTHING I've been thru has made me a tougher person. I'm starting to accept myself little by little. It is extremely difficult most days but im working on it. I will never allow someone to speak to me that way again. I can laugh at everything and everyone who ridiculed me because I better then ALL of that :-D

Absolutely amazing. I am so happy you came out of that a better person. You are doing great! inspirational!

SerenityRabit

I was bullied from day one, till about 7th grade.
by that time, the way I dressed and acted scared people away from me : 3.
I remember one instant in 3rd grade, where a boy was making fun of my weight, then pushed me so hard that I knocked the desk over.
The teacher did nothing.
I would come home covered in bruises.
And i wasn't that over weight, maybe 20 pounds.
I was bullied for other things which I won't go into detail, but some days I could be surrounded by up to 8 guys.
Im a girl ,for some reason, this always bothered me and effected me more than when girls would say something.
I ended up getting a ED in 6th grade and other issues, which I have over come.

MaximalLife

When I was 11 years old, I got fat was was teased unmercifully by others, including my father and brothers,
That was enough!
I was like Rocky [play the music], and I worked out - lost the fat.
And I was fit - peak condition as a teen on up to age 39 where I ballooned up for the first time after a back injury.
I worked off the fat - peak condition again, then - BANG - age 46 - head injury with severe brain trauma.
I bloated up to my highest weight: 265 lbs - OUCH!

I did what has always worked, and today, I am 194 heading back to 185 - peak condition.

I can still hear and feel every old would inflicted on me as a fat child.
That is a large part of my motivation.
It still hurts.

PhatAndy

you have overcome a lot! good job!

PhatAndy

When I was 11 years old, I got fat was was teased unmercifully by others, including my father and brothers,
That was enough!
I was like Rocky [play the music], and I worked out - lost the fat.
And I was fit - peak condition as a teen on up to age 39 where I ballooned up for the first time after a back injury.
I worked off the fat - peak condition again, then - BANG - age 46 - head injury with severe brain trauma.
I bloated up to my highest weight: 265 lbs - OUCH!

I did what has always worked, and today, I am 194 heading back to 185 - peak condition.

I can still hear and feel every old would inflicted on me as a fat child.
That is a large part of my motivation.
It still hurts.

im sorry you had to go through that =(

AbbyCar

I had an uncle that started calling me Chubs when I was in second grade. In my eyes, he was a grown up and I believed him, even when others told me different. I mean why would he keep telling me that if it wasn't true. Well in second grade I was not chubby. In fact, I was not chubby until sometime in high school. However, I always felt fat and self-conscious. I am by nature an introverted person. This probably worsened that a bit.

I was very bitter towards this uncle for a long time, thinking why would an adult do that to a child, because even when I cried he didn't stop. Then one day it hit me. My uncle, the one I thought was so grown up, was 13-14 years old when I was in second grade. I had let the comments of some punk *kitten* kid bother me my whole life!

I am still very self conscious but I am working on it.

summertime_girl

No, I was very thin as a child and teen. And I've bullied myself in my head far more than anyone else ever could as an adult.

jrcox520

Some girls in middle school used to call me Shamu. Then the guy I lost my virginity to told people really rude things concerning my weight (after the fact, of course.) I'm not sure I ever got over that stuff. It doesn't sting like it used to, but one of those girls sent me a friend request on FB. I laughed heartily and ignored the request. You would think after all these years (15 to be exact) I would assume those girls had said those things just because they were young and heartless and let bygones be bygones, but no, that *kitten* can kiss my *kitten*.

InvictusPhoenix

Wasn't bullied too badly- only by a couple specific people, but i was an outcast until the summer before senior year.
Freshman year: got a skateboard swung at my face because i was "already ugly anyways and it might fix me"
sophmore: got my braces- god that was fun
junior: ditched by my date as a joke on homecoming
summer between junior and senior year: got cut (lost 35 pounds), grew my hair out long(i'd had it cut like a "rockers" short in back, long up front and dyed red purple- went blonde), braces off, lost the acne, changed how i dressed and held myself
senior year and beyond: hottie-with-a-body who has a complete hatered of bullies (completely the one to call people out on being an *kitten*)
Now? 3 years later? I haven't been to my hometown for more than a week since I graduated. Usually people don't recognize me
***all of these are the reasons for my obsession with the poem invictus***

What an awful expirience, has this changed you at all? your mind how you think? Do you have compassion for others are you sensitive towards it?

I'm now EXTREMELY guarded when first meeting people. I can even come off as abrasive or just really quiet- i honestly had never even had a boyfriend until 4 months ago (took me along time to get over that people weren't talking to me or saying things in a secretly teasing way like the homecoming experience). It definitely left some wounds. My boyfriend says trying to get me on a date was like coaxing an baby animal (yeah- not a fan of the comparison) because he had to be so careful.

I'm also very very very defensive of people, especially girls, who talk badly about themselves or each other- i am always complimenting (sincerely) my friends and the people i'm closest to