All throughout my schooling, I've had bullies. Even in preschool. It wasn't until middle school that things got really bad for me. People accused me of being pregnant and would call me names associated with being fat despite the fact I was within a healthy weight. One of the worst times was at lunch with some friends. I felt a sharp pain in my arm and I heard an eruption of laughter from the table of hellions beside us. I knew they had done something. I looked all around me until I found the rubber band on the ground. I picked it up and carried it to the trash can that had been located between my table and the hellions'. I looked directly at them and broke it. I felt proud for standing up to them even if it was in a small way. I dropped the band into the trash and walked back to my seat. I ignored the hellions as they cracked jokes like, "I'm surprised she didn't eat that, too," usually followed by someone saying, "Careful, if she hears you she might sit on you." I looked down at the table hiding my tears until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and saw one of, of course, the hellions. I guess my friends had tried to get her away from me but they couldn't. She looked me in the eyes and asked when my babies were due. She told me she was certain it was twins and that she hoped I wouldn't eat these ones too. I began to cry and she returned to her table. Most of the cafeteria had been watching and now laughing. One of my friends told me to get a teacher but I refused and started walking to the bathroom. He then picked me up and put me over his shoulder, carrying me to the nearest teacher. The cafeteria was silent. He yelled out something that I don't recall and returned to his seat. I was taken to the principal's office where they did absolutely nothing. The point of this story isn't to upset anyone, although I know many who can relate. I've come here to talk about what's happened since then. Although I've had my ups and downs, things got better. One year later, the same girl who had bullied me was expelled for bullying others. Three years later I talked to my crush, he ended up having similar experiences, we later started dating. And finally, four years later, I've been voted drama club vice president. I've made friends with many of the people who had once laughed at me. Today I talked to someone that is in the same position I was. They were ready to give up, to commit suicide. At first, I gave them the generic reaction, "Don't do it, things get better," but then I remembered my own struggles with attempted suicide. On multiple occasions, I almost tried to hang myself. Multiple times, I began to sob and walked away. Why? I couldn't bring myself to force anyone through that pain. A loss of a child, of a friend, an aunt, a granddaughter, niece, and cousin. I had a friend who lost her father, unfortunately, he did commit suicide. He thought he wouldn't be missed but even I, who had only met him once, missed his presence. I've kept the pamphlet from his funeral, it may seem morbid but it reminds me that no matter who we are, we will be missed. I'm getting off my original point here, but I still mean every word. As far as finding hope goes, I find it in my religion, although many people aren't Christians, and I'm not saying they need to be, I find hope in God. I also find hope in my nephew. He talks about being friends with everyone because you never know if someone is lying about their happiness. He may only be eight but he's also dealt with bullying. He tells me that it made him sad at first but now he just wants to make kids who deal with bullying happy so that they never feel alone again. Open your eyes and look around, hope is everywhere, we just choose not to see it in the rain.