We all know about the bully at each elementary, middle, and high school. It could be the big bad boy who pushed you in the halls, called you funny names, and embarrassed you in class. It could be the football jock that thinks he’s on top of the school because he is the star athlete. It could be the group of pretty girls who think they run the school and only allow certain girls who are worthy enough to be in their friend group. Either way, all of these examples can be labeled as bullies.

In my friend's case, the bullying came from the girls and the guys. The ones who thought that they were the best and were better than anyone who stood in their way. The ones whose parents looked at them like their prized possessions, but little did they know the problems they caused for others. The ones who labeled her as a slut, a whore, a back-stabber, ugly, worthless, and incompetent. That she was not good enough for anyone or anything. That she was the one person on this earth that wasn’t wanted and could do us all a favor by killing herself so we wouldn’t have to see her anymore. They were the ones.

The ones that saw the scars on her wrists and thought nothing of them and in fact gossiped about them behind her back. The nights she spent crying in her room wondering why this happened to her and why she deserved this of all people. She was smart, got great grades, tried hard in cheer, loved her family, and respected others. Why her? Was this really the meaning of life? Should she listen to the bullies and end her life liked they have asked her to do many times?

Who deserves a life like that and what person could treat another that way? This was not easy for her. Not easy for her mother, her sister or her father. How could they help her when the bullies never seemed to stop? Nobody had a solution and sadly there was no solution to the problem. The bullies would continue to bully and the drama never seemed to end for her.

So to the bullies who tried to push my best friend over the edge here is the truth. The truth that you are worthless, incompetent and rude. That you are a terrible person for sending those text messages, blasting her on social media and making her feel like she wasn’t wanted. But lastly, thank you. Thank you for building her up to be one of the strongest and most brave people I have ever met. Thank you for teaching all of us that we should always think before we talk because our actions can affect others negatively.

To the bullies who will continue to be a bully, you are the ones who cause the tears, the pain, the cutting, the suicide, the anger, the doubt, and the frustration. Do us all a favor and stop being a bully.