Your WONDERFUL Works-THANK YOU : ) A thank you letter from Alisia

The following is excerpted from a thank you letter from Alisia to PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center.

Alisia shares "I was bullied mercilessly on a daily basis. Not just teased like others, but treated like someone that was not wanted. I had no friends because all knew I would be attacked constantly, and were afraid to be caught up in my situation. I would go without lunch. Using my money to buy their lunch, only to have them throw it in the trash in front of me. I ditched school to avoid abuse, sitting on a toilet all day with my feet up hiding from the other students. I was not liked and would never be. I still often feel like I am that ugly little girl seeking acceptance. I wish you had been around [in my childhood], I might just have been someone and meant something to somebody".

Our response for Alisia, "your kindness shines through, your words are a gift, and your goal to make a difference for all children means the world to us."

Read Alisia's full letter below.

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Hello, I am writing this, with tears in my eyes, with the hope it may help.

I was a 10-pound baby who grew to be 5’10” tall by the fourth grade. I was told that I was just not pleasing to look at. Adults saw me as a big, goofy kid because I was never the size of the other children my age. But I was just a child who wanted to be liked.

I was bullied mercilessly on a daily basis. Not just teased like others but treated like someone that was not wanted. I tried so hard to fit in, taking hurtful abuse. Laughing at myself as the others were . . . . while pieces of my little soul died daily. I was told how ugly and goofy I was. My family were always there to encourage me and assure me I was beautiful, but never the outside world.

I had no friends because all knew I would be attacked constantly, and were afraid to be caught up in my situation. I would go without lunch. Using my money to buy theirs, only to have them throw it in the trash in front of me.

I ditched school to avoid bullying, sitting on a toilet all day with my feet up hiding from the other students. Sad thing is when a student would find me they would run and tell others so that they could laugh at me being called names.

I was not liked and would never be.....but I so hoped I could make them like me. When you have no real experience with people you don't know how to foster good conversation or interactions. You always seem to irk people with your efforts.

As I grew I found myself continuing to allow others to emotionally abuse me, friends, co-workers, boyfriends, etc. I never knew I was worthy of genuine care. I am 49 and still lost and alone. Some say you are so pretty now; why complain? They have no clue I still feel like that ugly little girl seeking acceptance.

I am all alone out here now and nothing in the world as always. I may not be much, but I am someone who wants other children being broken to have a chance to be somebody. They deserve a chance no matter how they look, to just be allowed to dream and succeed. I want my words to help a child NOT go through what I did, I really want that.

THANK YOU for what you do. I wish you were around for me, I might just have been someone and meant something to somebody.

Alisia