You Can Be Real

I think that cyber-bullying happens so often because on the computer, you don’t have to face anybody. You can say things that you normally wouldn’t have the courage to say to someone’s face. It can help you stand up to someone that you’re afraid of, but it can also cause problems. Without seeing their face or hearing their voice, it’s hard to tell if someone is telling the truth, kidding or lying. …read more

A couple of months ago, I was at my friend’s house, hanging out with a big bunch of us. It really surprised me when two kids who my friends and me don’t like, showed up. Both of these kids have hated me since grade 5. They were acting all tough and saying mean things and just being rude. Anyway, they left after a while and the night went on. The next morning I went on my Facebook and found this message:

hey **** bag watch ur back back. ur in **** trouble! now ur gonna be **** out ur teeth for a week **** me **** are looking for u now.

I felt pretty scared. I should probably mention that the kid that wrote this and his friend have wanted to beat me up before too.

All that week they kept posting nasty messages on my Facebook.

Anyway, I know this sounds stupid, but I kind of felt embarrassed that this was actually happening. I didn’t feel like telling my friends or anyone about it because it was online and I wasn’t sure if it was really bullying or if they were just being dumb, but I was getting a bit freaked out. …read more

In junior high some girls threatened me on MSN and called me horrible names. I was really uncomfortable going to school and skipped just so I wouldn’t have to be there. Mostly because I would cry a lot and didn’t want to end up crying in my class or during break. …read more

I grew up in an everybody-knows-everybody neighbourhood. My mom was really young when she had my brother and me. We moved around a lot as kids and I changed schools every year. My parents weren’t ready to be parents; they were drinking and partying a lot. I ended up taking care of my brother all the time, even though I was only 6 or 7. …read more

I’m lucky because my parents are open with me whenever I ask questions about drugs or alcohol and always gave me lots of facts. I’m a very curious person and love to try new things, but because of their help I don’t want to drink or try drugs.

When I was in grade 8, I was hanging out at a friend’s house. One by one my friends got up to go outside. I could see through the sliding doors that they were sitting in a circle, and there was smoke. My friends asked me to join them, but I said no. I had joined the track team and was working hard towards being the best on the team. …read more

I had a pretty normal childhood. I was shy, but I’d say I was an average kid.

I smoked pot for the first time the summer before Grade 7. It was at a friend’s birthday party and he had a bunch of guys over. I knew they were going to be smoking pot and I decided to try it. I hadn’t done any drugs or alcohol before that – maybe a sip of my parent’s beer but nothing serious. …read more