I am very sorry to hear that you are being bullied. I hope you know that you are not alone! Many students are bullied, often due to ways in which they are different, whether this is their height, weight, the color of their skin, the things they can or can’t do well, the things they like to do, etc. Just because bullying is common does not mean it has to be a normal part of life, though. There are many things that you and others can do to prevent you and others from being bullied in the future. I will describe these in more detail but, in a nutshell, it is important to A) Report the bullying B) Do what you can to stop the bullying and C) Refrain from bullying others, even the students who are bullying you.

First, I recommend that you report the bullying that you are experiencing. Parents, teachers, counselors, principals, other school staff, friends, classmates, neighbors, etc. can all step in to help stop the bullying is happening BUT they cannot do this if they do not realize that there is a bullying problem!
 *If you have already told someone, only to find that the bullying didn’t stop, don’t give up! When students stop reporting the bullying they experience, adults often think the bullying has been stopped. They need to know that the bullying is still happening so that they can try something new! Often, it takes a few tries to successfully stop bullying.
 *If you feel that you are not being heard or taken seriously, tell other people what is happening to you. Often, adults can work together to help everyone realize what that the bullying you are experiencing is a serious problem.
       *Some students are afraid to report bullying because they are afraid the students who bully them will find out. In this case, try to find a time to report the bullying without the students who bully you being able to hear you. This might involve getting to class early or staying a little late to talk to a teacher, checking in with a trusted adult at school, telling a parent at home, etc.

You may also find that there are small things you can do to help stop the bullying that is happening to you.
     *Some students find that the students who bully them simply want to get an emotional reaction out of them. In these cases, the students who bully often get bored when the person they are bullying no longer gets upset and, instead, laughs, shrugs it off, or ignores them altogether.
     *Some students know that there are certain areas or times of day during which they are most likely to be bullied. Some of these areas and situations can be avoided. For example, a student who is being bullied when he hangs out outside before school may instead go straight inside when he gets to school in the morning. Another common situation is that students get bullied only when they are alone, so telling friends about your problem and walking with them when possible can be very helpful.

In any case, it is very important that you do not bully the students who are bullying you. Being bullied leads many people to feel sad, angry, frustrated, etc. and that is ok. It is not ok to act on those feelings by trying to get revenge on the students or to try to hurt them in an attempt to stop the bullying. I have worked with many students who, while being bullied, reacted by hitting, name-calling, or otherwise bullying the bullies. This can lead to serious consequences, like suspensions, detentions, loss of privileges, and even police tickets, expulsions, and serious injury. This can also make the bullying worse!

I hope this information gives you some ideas for stopping the bullying that is happening to you. Often, parents, teachers, and others in your life will have even more great ideas of how to stop the bullying. They can be wonderful resources for you and others! I wish you all the best!