You wipe away tears from your face with the damp sleeve of your shirt. You can feel the hurt that others have instilled within you so deeply. No matter how, you know it doesn’t feel good. To read a text, to be told how useless you are, to be hit like you mean nothing. 

Bullying can happen through many ways, physically, verbally, and online. This repetitive action of abuse can have negative effects on many peoples’ lives. Especially while being at the judgment of your peers. Seventh grader Paisley Vermeer knows all too well how such an experience can leave lasting effects.

“When I was bullied during 4th grade I really struggled,” Vermeer said. “I would cry myself to sleep almost every night, and the words that targeted me really affected how I saw the world. My relationships with my friends also got worse, so at the time my dog was my only friend. That’s why when my classmates said things like,’ I hope your dog dies.’ Their insults and threats took a heavy toll on me, damaging my mental health and worsening my anxiety.”

Although verbal bullying is hurtful, when things can escalate into violence it puts the victim at risk for more visible signs. Like sixth grader Amelia Tone, who experienced a form of physical bullying.

“During the summer, there was a girl who would follow me to the pool every time I went,” Tone said. “She attempted many times to drown me in the water. This continual harassment was definitely not just harmless teasing. I got upset with her and told her multiple times to stop. Yet, despite my warning, she still followed me, leaving me with no choice but to distance myself.”

Fortunately, seventh grader Jason Miller hasn’t faced bullying, though he claims to know why it’s caused and why it won’t easily stop.

“Most of the time, bullying happens because of jealousy and the desire to leave someone out because of their differences,” Miller said. “You know it’s bullying when you can see that the person is intentionally doing it to be mean. If someone is witnessing bullying, I think they’d feel unhelpful and guilty just watching, and probably won’t help because they’re scared they might get bullied too.”

Many people don’t actually experience bullying, but it can be more common for someone you know. Like in seventh grader Olivia Diaz’s case.

“I wasn’t bullied, but my sister was,” Diaz said. “She would constantly hang out with these girls that she thought were her friends. When really they said things about her behind her back and were mean to her. Yet she didn’t want to admit that she had bad friends, despite me and my family’s suggestions to do something.” 

As she helps students who deal with bullying, seventh grade counselor Desiree Sauceda has some suggestions about what someone should do when they are being bullied.

“I think many people feel uneasy seeking help about bullying but hesitate to act because they don’t know how,” Sauceda said. “Long-term effects of bullying include low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, school avoidance, and declining grades. So, if you are bullied, or know someone who has, tell a trusted adult. Discuss security and the power to protect yourself. Practice saying comebacks and if needed, develop a plan for intervention with an adult.”