Bullying has never been a fun topic for me to talk about. Despite that fact, I know that it is real. I know that It needs to be talked about. People need to know how real it is. People need to know how deep the words and actions cut. So, hear me out- you might've never experienced it, but more people than I can count have.

When you're little, you think of bullying as getting beat up. Bullying is more than fists and being tossed around in a circle. Bullying is words that cut deep. Bullying is words that stick with you forever. Bullying is looking back on a time in your life only to be reminded of the people who tormented you daily.

Bullying is no longer being shoved into a locker. Today, bullying is waking up and dreading going somewhere because your bullies could be there. It's waking up to an endless amount of harassment from people who barely know you. Today, bullying is hearing the words that those people said to hurt you over and over again. It's like a broken record in your head. It never ends. Bullying is deadly. It hurts. Over time it breaks you down more and more.

When I was a young child, I never thought I would be the victim of bullying. I never thought my friends would be victims of bullying. I never thought anyone I knew would be a victim of bullying. That's exactly what happened though.

My bullies were the "modern day" bullies. They used verbal techniques to break me and belittle me. At that time in my life, I didn't realize it was bullying. I put it in the box of "not being nice". Bullying wasn't real in my mind. It was a myth that was portrayed in media.

The words and actions of a bully stick with you forever. Those words never leave your head. They're right there with you. The instances might've happened years ago, but the second you see those people that hurt you, you have flashbacks that flood your body. The visuals, the emotions, the deep pain, it's all right there. You try your best to not think about it, but somehow it always comes up. It being the memories of those days that have scarred you.

Days that were filled with tears and questions of "am I actually worth something in this world?" flood through my mind. In essence, you could say my bullies won that year. I won't let them win anymore though.

If I could go back and tell myself, my friends and others that I know who have been bullied, I would tell them to stand up. Don't let the bullies win. Once you do, it continues. It never ends. They continue to taunt and belittle you. Over and over again.

It is well known that this world has hate in it. We live in a world where bullying is barely noticeable. We are distracted by the big events. We overlook a lot of the bullying as jokes and messing around. It's not a joke nor is it messing around. It is intended to hurt the said person.

If you've been bullied or are bullied,

I want you to know the actions and words of those people don't define you. You are a person. You are loved. You are cherished. Don't let those people who seek to hurt you win.

To my bullies of all years,

You hurt me. You didn't win though. I look at you and feel hatred and anger. I hope you never hurt anyone else. I hope you never go on to tease, belittle, and make someone cry as much as you did to me. I hope you realize your actions made a negative impact on my life. I'm not sure if I forgive you yet, but I hope to one day reach that place.

It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to talk about it with someone. It is better to have someone stand with you when it to comes to bullying. If you are a victim of bullying please call 1-800-273-TALK, talk with a friend, a trusted adult, or a counselor.