I never knew what it was like to be bullied until I had my sister. Now, I see the damage that's left on their little faces when they come home from school each day. A few of them are slow learners and always get picked on by the other children for their mistakes in math class. Others are shy, but still manage to make friends with some of the nicer kids in the school yard before having to go back into that violent environment for another four hours. My children tell me stories of hitting, kicking and the throwing of objects as the older kids chase them around. I know how they feel as I myself was a victim of bullying as a child. I didn't have it as bad as those kids do now, but my mom was the only one who knew what I went through and she too had been bullied in her teenage years by someone she looked up to and trusted.My ten year old sister is getting picked on at school because he is slow in learning his math facts. He gets help from his teachers and even from some of the children who are nice to him, but still cannot seem to grasp these basic facts about addition and subtraction.One of his classmates is constantly calling him names, making fun of him and his poor math skills. His daddy calls it bullying, but I know better. It's more like physical abuse. He's doing the same thing to my sister who is also slow in learning her math facts. She gets help from her teachers and even some of the children who are nice to her, but still cannot seem to grasp these basic facts about addition and subtraction.Their daddy says this is not bullying, but I know better too. It's more like emotional abuse! They are constantly telling me they want to go home when their class period has ended because their classmates are so mean. Everyone hated me and I didn’t have a single friend. I just want to tell everyone who is going through the same: It gets better. I know it’s really hard, and you might feel like giving up sometimes, but you have to be yourself and stay confident. Don’t let them get to you. I know you’re suffering, but at some point you’ll be proud of yourself for all that you’ve been through. And if anyone judges you, it is their own problem. Those people have no idea what you’ve been through. They probably couldn’t even take it. But you had to take it. And you’re still here going on with your life.And that’s why you can be proud of yourself.

@trantuongchi02022009