Don’t get me wrong, I had a wonderful childhood. I had a loving family that provided me with more than I could ever ask for. I had warm meals, clean sheets, support at every game or extracurricular activity. My mom was, and still is, my best friend. I would not change that for the world. But there is a reason why this came to be.

We were always immensely close, but there were a few times in my life when I had girls in my life whom I thought would be my friends forever. I thought these people would attend my wedding some day, that they would be my maid of honor and bridesmaids. I thought they would always be there for me, and I would always be there for them. That we would share boxes of tissues crying over boys that cheated us of our worth, and laughs over bowls of ice cream. But people can change at the flip of a dime.

Bullying can happen to the best of us, and it can come from the people whom we once thought were going to be our best friends until the end of time. Or, even worse, these “friends” can stand on the sidelines and slowly let go of your friendship, not standing up for you and turn to the people demeaning your worth.

I suffered from a few things in high school because of relationships and self-consciousness, but that meant I needed support from those I cared for the most. I will never forget the text messages I received telling me that I had “changed." Watching the people I cared for turning their backs on me. These people used to care for me and like who I was.

I received numerous harassing blocked calls, anonymous messages telling me I was ugly and deserved to die. There were tweets telling me I needed to “commit suicide," looked like “walking skeleton” and that I was gross and terrible and unworthy of life.

I still have cruel voicemails on my phone telling me I’m fake, and they think I’m trying to be this or that with the voice distorted, so I will never know who left me such horrendous things.

I was down, and people continued to kick me into the dirt. From my sophomore year until the end of my senior year, I ate lunch with my teachers every day. I never went to my prom or ball. I isolated myself so no one could get too close to know me so they could use my personal details against me.

Boys wouldn’t talk to me. After I overcame most of my demons, I’ll never forget the time I was told, “Lisa, you’re cool and really pretty, but I can’t be with you because of what people think of you and what they would say about me if I were to talk to you." Do you know what that kind of comment can do to someone? How messed up that can make someone's psyche? But I still survived. I didn’t break, no matter how much I wanted to. Yet people still perceived me as this alien, this creature undeserving of the love of any kind.

Because of these people, I needed to prove to myself that I am worthy of life. I needed to know I could prevail, shine and find success. I was determined to show these people I am beautiful, strong and smart. I needed to prove to them and myself that I was of value and that I was a force to be reckoned with.

I never stooped down to their level. I never repeated the cruel things they said to me back to them. I never believed they deserved such demeaning hatred. Despite every gruesome thing uttered and written to me, I still smiled. I still acknowledge those people I suspect were the culprits of these nasty actions when I see them out. I wish them peace of mind that allows them to love themselves as much as I love myself now. I wish they never made or continue to make another person feel the way they made me feel.

I do not regret anything I went through. I do not hate anyone. I would not go back in time and change a thing. I am grateful for the memories I share with each and every one of them, and I try to understand where the hate they spewed to me came from. I am grateful that the person they chose to ridicule was me and was not someone who would have let their cruel words go to their head. I am grateful that they did not choose someone who would have done something to themselves that they could never take back.

Those people made me who I am today, and I can say I am so proud of everything I have done and achieved. Someday, I will save lives and have children of my own that will be raised to spread love and kindness and to lend a helping hand to those suffering from the nastiness of others. I survived bullying, and I will spread love and kindness for as long as I live. I did not let the hate define who I am, and I hope you do not either.

You are not alone. Never hesitate to reach out. I am here for you, no matter what. I promise.