I have a dream, a dream to change the world. No more violence, no more suicide, and most importantly no more bullying. I think the world should be a comforting place for everyone. I was always put down by people. They said I would never amount to anything, because I was in the special ed program. After a while, I started to believe them. Then one day, I realized that I didn’t have to take that. All that time I spent trying to find out what was so wrong with me, I should have realized that I am a human being just like everyone else. I found out that I wasn’t the only one being bullied, and that bullying was one of the biggest problems we have in the world today. It is absurd how many people get so severely bullied everyday of their lives, then feel so bad about their lives to eventually commit suicide, especially teens. Whether someone is being bullied verbally or physically, it still hurts. People say sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt. I strongly disagree with that because words do hurt. If someone keeps pushing you while you’re down after a while you’ll be black and blue inside. It really won’t be pretty. Do you ever see them kids at school who always wear long sleeves, than the first time you see a glimpse of their arms you wonder what those marks are? “Think about it”, not everyone has a glamorous lifestyle. They’ve been hurt by someone. So it’s up to you to step up and help them.

People usually bully someone for a specific reason. For instance if they’re gay/lesbian, mentally challenged, or just someone who doesn’t have the same views you agree with. “That just not fair”. We shouldn’t judge. We should all respect others ideas. Also, a lot of bullies tend to bully those smaller than them. “Cowards”. And while people may think bullying might only go on in the schoolyard, “Not True”.The bullying can sadly continue on your computer. Unfortunately, there is a word called cyber bullying. But you can stop it by simply blocking or reporting the person/people online. Now there is also a more serious type of bullying, and that’s sexual
harassment. This involves inappropriate comments, gestures, actions, or attention that is intended to hurt, offend, or intimidate another person. This is a serious matter that you must report to the authorities as soon as possible. And if you’re dating someone who is abusing you, you have no need to be with that person. It may be hard, because you may think you love them or they love you, but someone who loves you doesn’t hit you or put you down. You should always go by a rule. Once they hit you once, they’ll hit you again. So if you don’t think you can do it alone, go to the police.

“Racism”. A lot of people may not think that is a form of bullying, but believe it or not it is. Racism has been around since the beginning of time. Although we can’t change the views in certain people, but we can inspire. We can all come as one like God wanted us to. I mean it would be pretty boring if the world only had one race. Why must people judge by the color of ones skin? Really. Like when people say they don’t like the people in Iraq, because of 9/11. Why blame the people? Not everyone in that country is bad. You should blame the terrorists, not the whole country. They have serious problems, because of the terrorists not the civilians. So back to my point. You’re bullying if you sit there and judge someone. You’re bullying if you give someone a dirty look. You’re bullying if you’re just simply racist. So bullies aren’t just kids and teens. They can grow into adults if someone doesn’t talk any sense into them. And sometimes adults can be worst. You may not even know you’re a bully.

“Child Abuse”. I had a hard time with my mother. I lived with her until I was 14, then moved with my grandmother. A lot of children don’t know they’re being abused until they’re older or maybe will never know. But I know if your parent is giving you unusual punishments, it’s abuse. Parents really shouldn’t hit their child at all. Believe it or not, a lot of bullies come from abusive households. If you see someone who doesn’t seem as happy like the other kids or just looks a little odd try talking to them or have a teacher talk to them. And if you are being abused tell a teacher. Don’t be afraid. I know I was afraid when I was a kid, but I regretted it ever since, and I could have been out of there sooner if I had of told someone. All children deserve a nice safe environment to come home to everyday. No one deserves to be mentally, physically, or even sexually abused.

If you are a victim, Please Tell Someone. I know the bully may try to threaten you, there’s nothing a bully can do to stop an adult. You don’t have to take it, no one does. I know, I’ve been where you are. You should tell someone before it’s too late. You should not be afraid to go to school everyday. It will affect your grades and your attitude, and it’s just not worth it. You may be wondering why that person might be bullying you, but the problem isn’t you, it’s the bully. Bullies for some reason like making people upset, but act like it doesn’t bother you. If they’re hitting on you, you should scream as loud as you can so everyone can hear you. It may seem like you’re a coward, but you’re not. So ask for help, and let people know. If you see someone being bullied tell someone know immediately or walk up to the bully and let them know that what they are doing is morally wrong. If you feel that you can’t stand up to them alone, get a bunch of people to stand up to them with you. Chances are that if they’re outnumbered they will not do anything. Don’t be a bystander, because the only thing worst than being a bully is being a bystander. Try putting yourself in their shoes. I know you wouldn’t want to be them.

If you are a bully, don’t you realize that that person has feelings. If you have problems that you’re dealing with, don’t take them out on other people that don’t have anything to do with it, especially smaller people. I mean, think about it. Would you try messing with someone your own size or someone bigger? Because of you, they may want to commit or do something to harm themselves. In my opinion, if they decide to kill themselves, in a way you murdered them, because if it wasn’t for you they’d probably still live a happy life. Or something different can happen. They might just wake up one morning and just snap, and want to take your life for revenge. Ever hear of the Columbine High School Massacre? So you never know what they might do. Think about yourself being tormented everyday. Think about why you bully.

The suicide age rate for teens is getting lower and lower every year. We cannot lose another living life to bullying. Everyone is on this earth for a reason, and you can’t pursue that dream if you give up. We all have to put a stop to this. I know being a teenager is one of the most difficult things out there. It was scary for me being a freshman in high school. I would always walk with
my head down in the hallway. But I found out that, that shows low self-esteem. I think that was what made me a target. I learned to walk with my head up high, because it showed that I had confidence in myself. I think more people should do this, because you are probably less likely to trigger bullies. I had thought about committing suicide but never did, because I always thought about what I would have lost. My future, my life. I found out that I really was a survivor, and only the strong survive.

This world would be a better place without bullies, but we all know that there’s always going to be bullies. So it’s up to the victims to stick up for themselves and ask for help. I am now a senior in high school, with a high self-esteem and tons of friends. I always help those who are being bullied, even though that might turn the bully against me. I sometimes have friends ask me why I’m friends with a certain person, but tell them that I’m friends with anyone who’s a nice person. I’ve lost some so called friends, because I was friends with a person they didn’t like, but it doesn’t bother me. Through that, I find out who my true friends are, because they shouldn’t care about who my other friends are.

Why is popularity so important nowadays? To me, I really didn’t care about being popular, because deep inside we were all the same. I did have the choice to be with the popular kids, and I didn’t go with them, because all they did was talk about people and start rumors. That just wasn’t for me. So I started my own group. A group that anyone can join, as long as they would be nice to one another. I was friends with anyone who respected people regardless of their IQ, their background, their sexual orientation, etc. It was a group that we all made clear that we should not judge one another. So it made it easier to open up to each other. And eventually a lot of people knew me in school and respected me and the advice I give others. So I guess you can say I was popular, but I didn’t use that word. I was more like well know. But for the good reason, because everyone looks up to you and wants to come to you for advice. Not because people envy you or because they’re afraid of you.

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in 14 to 24 year olds. As many as 12 to 25 percent of older children and adolescents experience some form of thoughts at one time or another. Recognition and early intervention of mental and substance abuse disorders is the most effective way to prevent suicide and suicidal behavior. But for some people, help came too late. Like “Tempest Smith”. She was only 12. People taunted her, because of her interest in Wicca and her gothic style. She later hung herself with a scarf. She left written words indicating her decision to her parent. No parent should have to find their child dead because of Christian harassment. No teenager should have to face religious discrimination and hatred so great that suicide seems to be the only option. There is now a foundation called the Tempest Smith Foundation was formed in her memory to promote religious tolerance.

“Amanda Todd”. She was in a webcam chat group to meet up with new and old people. They started calling her Beautiful, Stunning, cute, etc. And then they asked her to flash. So she did, Thinking it was nothing. A year went by and some guy she did not know, messaged her saying ”Give me a 'show' or I will send your boobs. She ignored it. Christmas Break came and a knock came on her door at 4 AM. It was the police. That person sent the picture to everyone, and everyone judged her for it. Bullied her from one mistake. She ended up switching schools. That person found out her school, friends, address once again and sent them there too. She had no one. She ended up switching towns. Then at this new school. She met this boy who she thought liked her. He didn't, he had a girlfriend. One day she got a note saying you better leave school, but she didn’t. A group of boys and girls including that boy, the girlfriend and more came up to her while the school surrounded her. The girl said “Look around, No one likes you.” One kid from the group said “JUST PUNCH HER ALREADY!” So she did, and Amanda got beat really bad. And her dad ended up finding her in a ditch hours later. She went home and drank bleach, to try to kill herself, but it didn’t work. The next day all over her Facebook page was written “Drink some more bleach", "No one cares", "I hope she dies, "No one would cry", "Everyone hates you", "Amanda try it again we dare you" and so much more. She cried every night. Why did everyone hate her over one mistake? One? She even made a Youtube video about her experience. She started cutting so much and did drugs,and drank alcohol. She ended up trying to kill herself again. She finally hung herself when she just couldn’t take it. She was 15.

One last person I’ll talk about is “Tyler Clementi”. He was an 18 year old at Rutgers University and a talented violinist. His violin teacher said he was a quiet person, but when he picked up the violin it was a different story. It was like he was speaking out loud in his own language, that he was comfortable with. He could have been a famous violinist, but unfortunately just to his death from the George Washington Bridge. The suicide was prompted by the video streaming over the internet of an intimate encounter he had with another man in his dorm room. His roommate used a webcam on a computer in the room without his knowledge. Clementi complained to his resident assistant and other officials that his roommates had spied on his sex life and video-streamed it using a webcam. He had written online in two different forums about the complaints he filed through the appropriate University channels about his roommate. He felt like no one was helping him. So do you see what people are doing? People are judging. This is completely unacceptable. People have the right to choose their religion, people have the right to wear what they want, people shouldn’t judge others sexual orientation, and people shouldn't put down those who have made mistake in their life. It’s not fair. If we all don’t be kind to each other, we are all going to be unhappy and there are going to be more teen deaths.

Unfortunately, teens miss so much school they eventually drop out. That’s running away from your problems and letting the bullies win. With all the chaos going on in our world, we must realize that we need to come together as a family of God, as he made us all brothers and sisters. We are all important. We are all here for a reason. We are all special. Anyone can be doctor, or a lawyer, or even the president of the United States. It’s just up to you to believe in yourself, and not to listen to negative comments. Everyone has a dream, a dream to be someone. God gave us all a gift. It’s up to us to find that gift, and use it to the best of our ability. So don’t take your own life before you find your gift. No one can help you, unless you are willing to help yourself. You can’t get help, unless you let people know. Always remember that there’s something out there for all of us. We all deserve a long happy life. So Please, be a friend not a bully.