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Myles also said he would try to stop the bullying by thinking of ways to improve himself.
“I used to think all the time, ‘I need to lose weight, look at all the pimples on my face,’” he recalled.
According to recent reports, almost a third of all students ages 12 to 18 experience being bullied at school, some even on a daily basis. Fourteen percent of those students have a really bad reaction to the bullying and end up developing bad anxiety, poor self-esteem, depression about going to school, and even suicidal thoughts.
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“I started to interact with people I used to make fun of and I got to know them. They were actually nice people to talk to. When I found out that some of them would hurt themselves because of bullying, I felt like I was a horrible person,” he said.[/pullquote_right]
While Myles said that he eventually lost weight and bullying decreased, he still felt anxious.
“I changed my looks, but my insecurities will never go away,” said Myles.
Kalvin said he also transformed himself over the years.
“I started to interact with people I used to make fun of and I got to know them. They were actually nice people to talk to. When I found out that some of them would hurt themselves because of bullying, I felt like I was a horrible person,” he said.
Another bullying victim, Heaven Murillo, had her mother and school get involved.
When interviewed, her mother Joanna said that Weaver Middle School, where Heaven was being bullied, was not doing enough to stop the bullying of her daughter.
Heaven said it all started when a former classmate wanted to “dance battle” her.
“She did her part and so then I did my part. When I finished, everyone started laughing at me,” Heaven recalled.
Heaven said that in the next week a girl grabbed her by the neck, pushed her against a wall, and a group of kids threw food at her. Shortly after, Heather’s mother told Heaven to “defend herself” against the bullies. Heather was soon involved in a physical altercation and was suspended.
