Every high school has them, bullies. A group that teases kids for their looks, behavior, clothes, choices or anything they can find that isn't "normal." They will bully people for things that are out of their control and things that are your choices. They reek havoc on other students, but almost never get in trouble or stop. They can make kids feel awful about themselves, question who they are, and degrade their self-worth.

Thank you bullies! Thank you to the people in middle and high school who made fun of my voice. Thank you for mocking my high-pitched voice that took forever to "drop." Thank you for assuming I was gay and trying to hook me up with other guys just because of my voice. Thank you for driving me to be quiet, to shut my mouth so that no one, not even me, could hear my own voice. Thank you for then labeling me as a "loner" with no friends. Thank you for making high school a living hell.

You made me dread every day of high school and I thought it was supposed to be some of the best four years of my life, but that didn't happen. Thank you for destroying my self-confidence. Thank you for making me so concerned about my self-image.

Thank you for all the bad.

Thank you for making me find a few friends in high school that accepted me. Thank you for making me stronger and for making me build walls up around me. It created a test for future friends; the ones that wanted to get to know me and become close with me had to break down those walls.

Thank you for driving me to play volleyball in high school just to get around other people. It brought me so much joy when I couldn't find it. Thank you for influencing important decisions in my life because, without you, I would not have gone to a college several states away, where I knew none of you were going to go. Here at High Point University, I found people that love and care about me, while allowing me to grow more than I could have imagined. Thank you for developing my empathy because I feel the pain other people do when they are being bullied.

Thank you for all the good.

Bullies, I am sorry that you felt the need or had the desire to bully me and I am sorry all the bullies out there feel like they have to bully people to feel good about themselves.

To the bullied, do not let the bullies wear you down. Try to find positives in every situation and it is never as bad as it might seem in your head. There are always people that care about you and will listen if you need to talk. The bullying will stop and it can make you a better person too.

Thank you for everything, bullies.