My Story Of Being Picked On. From Bullies To Success In Life.

by Shawn C.
(Eastern Shore Of Maryland)

I don't have a child myself (hopefully in the future), but I would like to share my experience with being picked on and bullied and where I am today. My hope is to show people that are going through this difficult time that there is light at the tunnel, and it's going to be great. If you ever had a guidance counselor tell you that high school is the best time of your life, is total b.s.

I starting getting picked on in the 2nd grade, I was picked on by everyone about everything about myself. I tried to tell my teacher but she did nothing (thanks public school system). I felt so low, I didn't have any friends, I was a complete outcast. I tried everything to fit in, I hated school. Others would call me names, take my lunch, and beat me up. I wasn't a bad kid, in fact I was pretty laid back, and I never cause harm to anyone. There was a single desk in the back of cafeteria, and everyday I would sit here and eat my lunch. I didn't play on the playground in elementary school, because I never felt accepted by my classmates. My self-esteem did take a toll for the worse. I cried a lot at home and I just got to the point where I didn't talk to anyone about my feelings or problems.

In middle school I thought I had caught a break from it all, I had a few friends. Or so I thought, they pretended to be friends with me. I invited them to my birthday party, but none of them showed. The next day at school I found a card on my locker and it had written in it, 'happy birthday s#&t head, drop dead', and all of my so-called friends had signed it. That year was like my classmates wanted me to commit suicide or something.

It didn't let up in high school either, although I had taken care of the bullies by taking marshal arts classes (I was a green belt by the 10th grade) and I built up a lot of muscle. But I was still picked on, it's like they had no sense of respect. I even had a teacher in high school that told me that I wasn't going to be an architect (which is what I wanted to be since the 4th grade), that crushed me.

I finally had a girlfriend and my first date in the 12th grade, we had so much in common, and I really liked her. But I soon found out that she was also faking it. She had dated and even had sex with other guys. And one day I received an email from her, it was a video of her having sex with a guy that picked on me everyday. She was saying things like to hell with him, he can drop dead. And I just broke down, she had crushed my heart. I tried to commit suicide, but it failed. I got better and went to school and everyone found out about what happened. But yet nothing stopped. I never went to prom or went on any senior trips or anything. I now regret missing all of it. Then I graduated high school, thank god. I didn't have a graduation party.

When I was even in college some of my high school classmates would write emails to me picking on me. But at this time I didn't give a crap, cause I made good, true friends in college. I was actually pretty popular in college, because they took the time to get to know me. I did have some trouble with taking people seriously when they were joking (still have that issue, but not as bad.). I got my masters in architectural design and construction science, top of my class.

I soon got my first job and licence as a architect, ever sense then I would email the teacher that said I would never be an architect and tell her what I was designing, send articles of interviews and designs I've done. After that I met a woman that would be my lovely wife <3. Now I live a very happy life and I design conservatories, my designs have been seen around the world and are well known (I made a pretty good name for myself). And when I go back to my hometown to visit, I see my former classmates (typically working at McDonald's, lol). And they see (the hole town and the world) what I've become. I even do public speaking at the elementary, middle, and high school about being picked on, bullies, and chasing a dream (even if a teacher tells you can't do it).

I'm so blessed in my life now and I hope my experience would help you or your child to stay strong and to know that things will get better, and that we all can do anything we put our minds to, no matter what anyone says. Thank-you for reading my experience.