Experiences have many effects on people that change their lives forever. These experiences can either be bad or memorably good. My life changed forever in that year of seventh grade when I was bullied to the extent of a deep depression, and even to the thought of suicide. Unfortunately, this was a horrible memory that still haunts me today. “But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.” This quote brilliantly said by my role model Nelson Mandela talks about how his journey to help people did not stop. When he was troubled and thrown in prison, he still walked and pushed for freedom and equality of all. This is what my story is about. It is the story of me breaking through and climbing that hill and seeing that there was more to come in my journey, and what I need to do. What I learned from this experience was to help people who were also in my situation of being bullied, and how they felt alone like nobody cared.
Initially, my story began this one day when a few boys of this group thought it would be funny to tease a few girls of the “unpopular” status. I had never been “popular” because I had seen how they treat people and themselves. This was a funny joke between my friends and me because when they would fake ask us out, we would say the terms, “get lost” or, “in your dreams.” When I went home those days, I would talk about those boys and how they were fake asking me out. Of course, my parents and my family would just say the same thing over and over again, “they are just being boys, and you know how they are.” I took this into consideration. Unfortunately, it grew from then to a bigger cause. They would just full out bully me. They told me awful statements such as “you are ugly” and really bad words. When I tried to fight back, it only got worse and I tried to tell my parents again. Whatever I said it did not work because they used that same statement over and over again. Eventually the “popular” girls got involved in it, and girls are very known to exaggerate in their gossiping sessions. As both the boys and the girls did this, I felt like my self-confidence was draining out of me. I was alone and I knew that because my family did not understand, and my friends were in the same predicament as me. Eventually, I fell into a deep depression like falling into an abyss. I secluded myself from everyone around me. I did not dare to speak or look at or smile at anyone. Also, I did not dare to trust anyone. Consequently, the depression grew to a point where I thought of killing myself and how I should have never been born. The emotional abuse just kept going on for that whole year. I would stand in front of the mirror above the sink in my bathroom and think about drowning myself. I would look in the mirror and think that I was worthless. I had neither strength left nor any self-confidence. My grades suffered worse than ever before, and the bullies just kept pushing. I would literally act sick just to stay home. However, during summer break, I really thought about this depression, and how I would never let anyone treat my friends or me like that ever again. During that time, I realized that there are people who are in my predicament with no one to lean back on as I was so I decided to help other people, and work my way out of my depression.
Consequently, this experience has scarred me for life. I still cry after these three years because of the emotions and memories that come back to me. When I had that depression during that time, it impacted me deeply. Thus, my depression comes back whenever it wants, and I do the actions that I did during the main depression during the bullying. For example, I seclude myself from other people, and I cry, and I do poorly in school. I know what it feels like to walk home after school crying to no end, and having to hide it from your family because they do not know what you went through without them there. This experience will stay with me forever. I will forever remember the bullies’ faces that come to me in my depression. They are clear as daylight. Though I was alone during that time does not mean I cannot help other people to see they are not alone themselves.
Fortunately, there are some good characteristics that came out of this experience. I helped out countless of times in local organizations that helped people who were in my predicament. I shared my story countless of times to people, and tried to help them through the same depression feeling that I had. Indeed, my parents still do not know what occurred in that year and at the organizations because they cannot understand the pain that they put me through because they did not believe me. There are people out there that are in predicaments that most people do not even know of. Bullies just want a “punching bag” to make them laugh or feel better. I should thank those bullies because it made me realize my potential to help people in my community that are in depressions because of bullying or other causes. In fact I do not just help at anti-bullying shelters, but at rape centers, and overall suicide centers. I like to give people who were in the same predicament as me some hope, and to make them feel like they are not alone in this “battle.” I hate it when I feel alone in a situation I cannot control so people might be the same. Out of consequences, comes a relief for other people.
Bullies are everywhere, and many victims are out there also. I should know because I was one of them. I was not one of them who killed themselves, but it almost got to that point. I am glad I am still here to share my stories in these organizations. I feel like every bullied soul feels like they are alone. That is all I want to do. I want to help my community. Indeed, this experience has taken a tremendous impact on my life. I see now that my struggle was only the beginning of a journey still yet to be had. I will help people to the end of my life. I want to make sure that no one feels alone. However, I cannot get to everyone, but they say that the small differences help the major ones. I want to be part of that. I know that technology is advancing in age, and more techniques of bullying are coming out. However, one person can make a difference. Nelson Mandela as I mentioned before was a man who went to jail fighting for freedom. I do not know if I would go to jail, but I would do anything to help victims of these bullies’ tortures. As many people have not learned from bad experiences, I have, and for the good of the community. My life took an awful turn in that time. I still climbed that hill, and I see the journey ahead of me, and no matter how hard it looks I know I will overcome the obstacles in my path to get to my destination.