I’ve always been afraid to tell people the whole story behind my departure from my old life. I’ve always gotten so many laughs or doubts about it I’ve figured it better to leave this little bit out. My whole story makes sense without it. All the bullying I receive has happened before this incident, and continues to happen after. I received Twitter and Facebook hate for many years before what I am about to tell you happened, but this incident made everything so much worse. I’m afraid of what you may think about what I’m about to say. I know deep down in my heart I’ve done nothing wrong, even though it seemed to all of my old school that I haven’t.
I’m not one of those girls who have started their own company or charity, I haven’t spent hours in a soup kitchen. I belong in a separate category- cyber bully survivor. I wish I could meet other girls that have survived what I’m constantly put through, but there are few. Sadly, most sevior bully victims have taken their lives, in fact about 7% of high school students take their lives due to it. I am a cyberbully victim, I am not suicidal.
All I’ve ever wanted to be was an inspiration. My whole life I’ve drempt of the day people come up to me telling me how I’ve impacted their lives. I never could pin point what I would do to become an inspiration, but I thought I would be older than I am. I am almost 16 and have been cyber bullied since I was 14. It all started when I witnessed my friend being sexually harassed and told the administration. Big mistake. Yes, I got it stopped, but it only made my life and my friends life worse. I couldn’t walk through the school without “Free Joe” being screamed at me or plastered on my locker. The halls were filled with signs and tee shirts saying “Free Joe”. It was a matter of hours for everything to move from school to social networking sites and from “Free Joe” to hatred specifically towards me. My best friends even turned against me. Hate groups and hundreds of tweets later- I became a target. I wasn’t safe at my public high school or online. I’ve never been one to run from my problems- but when your life was endangered, what else is there to do? I left my public high school and was homeschooled for a marking period. My family and I thought that by taking me out of my school, I would no longer be in harms way and all the tweets and Facebook post would stop. Sadly we were wrong.
I have switched to my local private high school and will never look back. The rumors started at my old school have spread to my new school and most all of the schools in my county. Everyone has heard the nasty rumors about me and most have joined in. However my school now has try to stopped it- thats something the Administration at my old school never tried to do, after promising they would. My school now is a family. Everyone knows my story and doesn’t judge me. Instead they help me fight my battle. I have been “trending” locally on twitter seven brutal times. I refuse to let any of that change me.
Things have been better lately. My new school is truly a family. When things are hard I know I have a whole school behind me that will make sure I’m ok. Nothing will ever happen to me here. When things me about are posted on social networking sites, someone from my new school has already stuck up for me before I get the chance to see it. This is the difference between having true friends and having fake ones. Fake ones help pass the time, they come and go when its convenient for them. True friends may only show up during the hard times, but thats when you need them most. You see, good people make good friends and will always do the right thing. If you need someone to help hold you up, a true friend will be there. Thats the difference between my school now and my old school. My new school is filled with good people.
I’m glad God chose me to go through this struggle. Im not so sure he could have allowed anyone else to go through my struggle and made it out alive. He gives his hardest battle to his strongest warriors. I’ve learned that sometimes its okay to not be okay. I might have left my past, but my past hasn’t left me. Things have happened perviously that will haunt me for the rest of my life, but they’ve also taught me some valuable life lessons. My biggest fear is that someone that has seen what I went through and is afraid to speak up and say she is being sexually harassed because of the way my story has been written. I know I did the right thing , I saved my friend’s life. Don’t ever be afraid to do the right thing, ever.
Thank you for honestly sharing your story. You are an inspiration. I am sorry for your pain.
It gets better. Congrats on how strong you are and for doing he right thing for your friend.
Excellent! Annnnnnnnnd hmmmmmmmmm
)! Wellll…..i would say God had you go through this as you say because He knew you WOULD be and are one of His string warriors. Second, so that you would be an “inspiration” to others in the same situation. YOU young lady have succeeded in your desire to be an inspiration to others and by doing so have given God the success and glory He enjoys. Read Romans 12. I think you will enjoy it. 
)!
Ooops! Sorry i meant strong not string
you are strong and a survivor…sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest…you should be proud…
Grats! Keep on writing, good work!
Love this sentence: “He gives his hardest battle to his strongest warriors”
I feel your pain. I’ve had experiences with being bullied as well, but never through social media. You have my total respect for going through that, and pulling through the way you did.
Thank you. Your kind words mean a lot.