Willow - "I Forgive You"

Photo by Randy Bacon

I'm very artistic, and I love to have a good time. I feel like I'm very open and kind, and I always try to put others before myself.

One thing I really want people to understand about me is that if someone is going through a hard time, I can get down to their level and feel some of the same things they're feeling so I can help lift them back up. I think that's important because the power of empathy is showing people that they're not alone and that other people understand them.

I've felt alone before.

When I was little, I got bullied. It started when I was really young, around second grade. It got to the point where we had to go to the doctor because nobody knew what was wrong with me. I would get horrible stomachaches and not want to go to school. Eventually, we realized I was making myself sick because I was so nervous about what was happening. I took the things they were doing to me to heart. For a while it turned into a lot of self-doubt.

Photo by Randy Bacon

I was terrified. Honestly, I don't even know how I got through it. Even now it's still a little hard to think about. But I learned something from that experience. I learned not to let people walk all over me. I learned not to care so much about what they think. Most importantly, I learned to stay true to myself.

There have been people in my life—some of my favorite people in the world—who helped me get through hard times. They showed me that I wasn't alone. They understood me, and because of that, I understand how important it is for other people to feel understood too.

What happened to me shaped who I am today. It makes me stand up for other people whenever something is happening to them and make sure they're okay. When someone's down, I can usually feel it without them even saying anything. And when I feel that, I don't just ignore it. I'm there for them if they need me.

That's probably what I'm most proud of about myself. The empathy.

If I met someone going through the same thing I went through, I would tell them that things like that happen, but they need to stay true to themselves. I would tell them to find the people who make them feel happy instead of tearing them down. Find your people and lean on them.

I think everybody is going through something.

That's why, if I could say something to the people who bullied me, I would tell them that even if they think bullying someone is cool, it's not the solution. If they're going through something difficult, they need to find their people and lean on them instead of taking it out on someone else. Because other people are going through things too.

Photo by Randy Bacon

When people read my story, I hope they feel something. I hope they realize that if everyone put in a little effort each day to be kinder and think before they act, the world would be a better place. I hope people bring a little more peace into the lives of others.

I wanted to share my story because there are people who are going through the same things I went through, and I want them to know they aren't alone. This is happening everywhere, but they can get through it.

I know that because I got through it.

And there is one more thing I want to say.

For the people who bullied me, even though it hurt back then, I forgive you.

Because I know that we all go through hard things.

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