hi my name is Yusuf GERD and I’m a ninth grader at Green Heights International
grader at Green Heights International
grader at Green Heights International School and today I’m here to tell you my
School and today I’m here to tell you my
School and today I’m here to tell you my story by now every single one of you has
story by now every single one of you has
story by now every single one of you has his or her first impression of me
his or her first impression of me
his or her first impression of me some of you may like me already and some
some of you may like me already and some
some of you may like me already and some of you may not but with all due respect
of you may not but with all due respect
of you may not but with all due respect I don’t care except for the ones who do
I don’t care except for the ones who do
I don’t care except for the ones who do like me thank you very much for believed
like me thank you very much for believed
like me thank you very much for believed for a very long time now but during this
for a very long time now but during this
for a very long time now but during this time I’ve learned the most important
time I’ve learned the most important
time I’ve learned the most important lessons that have helped me through life
lessons that have helped me through life
lessons that have helped me through life until now but to tell you my story we
until now but to tell you my story we
until now but to tell you my story we are going to have to go back to years
are going to have to go back to years
are going to have to go back to years ago I walk out into the garden afraid it
ago I walk out into the garden afraid it
ago I walk out into the garden afraid it was a normal day every bad day was
was a normal day every bad day was
was a normal day every bad day was normal there they were coming to me to
normal there they were coming to me to
normal there they were coming to me to hit me make fun of me and humiliate me
hit me make fun of me and humiliate me
hit me make fun of me and humiliate me it was a normal day I’ve been a victim
it was a normal day I’ve been a victim
it was a normal day I’ve been a victim of bullying for a very long time but I
of bullying for a very long time but I
of bullying for a very long time but I was alone and if I wasn’t alone I will
was alone and if I wasn’t alone I will
was alone and if I wasn’t alone I will be surrounded by toxic friends but
be surrounded by toxic friends but
be surrounded by toxic friends but little did I know these bad things they
little did I know these bad things they
little did I know these bad things they have made me more confident positive
have made me more confident positive
have made me more confident positive stronger and happier there are three
stronger and happier there are three
stronger and happier there are three kinds of people ones whom we consider
kinds of people ones whom we consider
kinds of people ones whom we consider the norm those who go out with friends
the norm those who go out with friends
the norm those who go out with friends and so on
and so on
and so on then there are those who have no friends
then there are those who have no friends
then there are those who have no friends or don’t go to birthday parties just
or don’t go to birthday parties just
or don’t go to birthday parties just because they aren’t invited to and then
because they aren’t invited to and then
because they aren’t invited to and then there are the ones who are surrounded by
there are the ones who are surrounded by
there are the ones who are surrounded by toxic friends in my case I was the last
toxic friends in my case I was the last
toxic friends in my case I was the last two people combined since you couldn’t
two people combined since you couldn’t
two people combined since you couldn’t really call my friends at the time real
really call my friends at the time real
really call my friends at the time real ones one day my mom found me on the
ones one day my mom found me on the
ones one day my mom found me on the crank on the couch with a few scratches
crank on the couch with a few scratches
crank on the couch with a few scratches as a result of what my so-called friends
as a result of what my so-called friends
as a result of what my so-called friends thought was a game instead of standing
thought was a game instead of standing
thought was a game instead of standing up for myself my mom did and I couldn’t
up for myself my mom did and I couldn’t
up for myself my mom did and I couldn’t be more thankful but to them this was
be more thankful but to them this was
be more thankful but to them this was considered a sign of weakness it reached
considered a sign of weakness it reached
considered a sign of weakness it reached a point where they got the strongest of
a point where they got the strongest of
a point where they got the strongest of them to beat me up oh and it gets worse
them to beat me up oh and it gets worse
them to beat me up oh and it gets worse they even created a whatsapp group share
they even created a whatsapp group share
they even created a whatsapp group share videos of me getting hit I learned some
videos of me getting hit I learned some
videos of me getting hit I learned some of my mistakes by talking to my parents
of my mistakes by talking to my parents
of my mistakes by talking to my parents about
about
about and one of them was not standing up for
and one of them was not standing up for
and one of them was not standing up for myself
myself
myself and making it clear that this this is
and making it clear that this this is
and making it clear that this this is not a game of course being backstabbed
not a game of course being backstabbed
not a game of course being backstabbed by my own best friends was something
by my own best friends was something
by my own best friends was something that I never saw coming and no matter
that I never saw coming and no matter
that I never saw coming and no matter how much my parents warned me about them
how much my parents warned me about them
how much my parents warned me about them I still couldn’t believe that my own
I still couldn’t believe that my own
I still couldn’t believe that my own best friends would be the ones who would
best friends would be the ones who would
best friends would be the ones who would believe me after all during this time I
believe me after all during this time I
believe me after all during this time I experienced a great deal of loneliness I
experienced a great deal of loneliness I
experienced a great deal of loneliness I experienced a great deal of loneliness
experienced a great deal of loneliness
experienced a great deal of loneliness and I still had a few friends but I
and I still had a few friends but I
and I still had a few friends but I still felt lonely and we weren’t even
still felt lonely and we weren’t even
still felt lonely and we weren’t even that close actually so I hope this makes
that close actually so I hope this makes
that close actually so I hope this makes whoever if is feeling the same way now
whoever if is feeling the same way now
whoever if is feeling the same way now know that they are not alone because
know that they are not alone because
know that they are not alone because there are loads of people who are
there are loads of people who are
there are loads of people who are feeling the same way there is so much
feeling the same way there is so much
feeling the same way there is so much more to dealing with bullying than what
more to dealing with bullying than what
more to dealing with bullying than what people tell you I was still being made
people tell you I was still being made
people tell you I was still being made fun of hit pushed punched insulted nice
fun of hit pushed punched insulted nice
fun of hit pushed punched insulted nice times but how does I deal with it well I
times but how does I deal with it well I
times but how does I deal with it well I made lots of mistakes but mistakes were
made lots of mistakes but mistakes were
made lots of mistakes but mistakes were a good thing for me
a good thing for me
a good thing for me mistakes gave me good lessons that
mistakes gave me good lessons that
mistakes gave me good lessons that helped me improve one thing you can do
helped me improve one thing you can do
helped me improve one thing you can do to learn from my mistakes and I wish I
to learn from my mistakes and I wish I
to learn from my mistakes and I wish I had done that at all times is to ignore
had done that at all times is to ignore
had done that at all times is to ignore them ignore their comments bullies have
them ignore their comments bullies have
them ignore their comments bullies have a certain goal in their mind it can be
a certain goal in their mind it can be
a certain goal in their mind it can be one of many things but most of the time
one of many things but most of the time
one of many things but most of the time they want to just bother you or provoke
they want to just bother you or provoke
they want to just bother you or provoke you or grab your attention maybe satisfy
you or grab your attention maybe satisfy
you or grab your attention maybe satisfy themselves with your own pain so
themselves with your own pain so
themselves with your own pain so sometimes when someone made fun of me I
sometimes when someone made fun of me I
sometimes when someone made fun of me I ignored
ignored
ignored I turned the tables around they weren’t
I turned the tables around they weren’t
I turned the tables around they weren’t the ones getting the last laugh I was
the ones getting the last laugh I was
the ones getting the last laugh I was and it was also kind of fun for example
and it was also kind of fun for example
and it was also kind of fun for example I uploaded a video on YouTube once and
I uploaded a video on YouTube once and
I uploaded a video on YouTube once and someone left me this comment your
someone left me this comment your
someone left me this comment your channel sucks just like you this was my
channel sucks just like you this was my
channel sucks just like you this was my reply thank you for expressing your
reply thank you for expressing your
reply thank you for expressing your opinion happy late Valentine’s Day in
opinion happy late Valentine’s Day in
opinion happy late Valentine’s Day in case no one told you long
[Applause]
[Applause] see I got the last laugh and he didn’t
see I got the last laugh and he didn’t
see I got the last laugh and he didn’t even need to apply he didn’t have to I
even need to apply he didn’t have to I
even need to apply he didn’t have to I ruined his goal another thing my parents
ruined his goal another thing my parents
ruined his goal another thing my parents told me to do was when someone
told me to do was when someone
told me to do was when someone physically believed me
physically believed me
physically believed me I should go through three stages first
I should go through three stages first
I should go through three stages first go tell someone who could help you
go tell someone who could help you
go tell someone who could help you through it and if that doesn’t work
through it and if that doesn’t work
through it and if that doesn’t work firmly telling yourself to stop and if
firmly telling yourself to stop and if
firmly telling yourself to stop and if that doesn’t even do anything then
that doesn’t even do anything then
that doesn’t even do anything then you’re gonna have to defend yourself
you’re gonna have to defend yourself
you’re gonna have to defend yourself physically but during the process do not
physically but during the process do not
physically but during the process do not turn into the bully because that’s what
turn into the bully because that’s what
turn into the bully because that’s what the bullies want they want to break you
the bullies want they want to break you
the bullies want they want to break you they want to take away that thing you
they want to take away that thing you
they want to take away that thing you have that they are so jealous of if you
have that they are so jealous of if you
have that they are so jealous of if you turn into one of them you lost you
turn into one of them you lost you
turn into one of them you lost you didn’t survive burning if you even if he
didn’t survive burning if you even if he
didn’t survive burning if you even if he become so immensely popular he’s still
become so immensely popular he’s still
become so immensely popular he’s still lost sometimes when someone gets bullied
lost sometimes when someone gets bullied
lost sometimes when someone gets bullied it can mean that they will experience a
it can mean that they will experience a
it can mean that they will experience a lot of alone time during my time being
lot of alone time during my time being
lot of alone time during my time being bullied I spent most of my time at
bullied I spent most of my time at
bullied I spent most of my time at school whether being bullied or staying
school whether being bullied or staying
school whether being bullied or staying alone and as I said I had a few friends
alone and as I said I had a few friends
alone and as I said I had a few friends but it didn’t remove all my feelings of
but it didn’t remove all my feelings of
but it didn’t remove all my feelings of loneliness I felt like a nothing but as
loneliness I felt like a nothing but as
loneliness I felt like a nothing but as the weeks passed by I learned to love
the weeks passed by I learned to love
the weeks passed by I learned to love myself it was a hard thing for me but I
myself it was a hard thing for me but I
myself it was a hard thing for me but I learned to love my own company I started
learned to love my own company I started
learned to love my own company I started to love my hate itself so I started to
to love my hate itself so I started to
to love my hate itself so I started to love my own company which started to
love my own company which started to
love my own company which started to boost my confidence and confidence was
boost my confidence and confidence was
boost my confidence and confidence was actually one of the major keys that
actually one of the major keys that
actually one of the major keys that helped me survive bullying confidence
helped me survive bullying confidence
helped me survive bullying confidence helped me through a lot of tough times
helped me through a lot of tough times
helped me through a lot of tough times confidence gave me courage to stand up
confidence gave me courage to stand up
confidence gave me courage to stand up for myself against bullies or anyone who
for myself against bullies or anyone who
for myself against bullies or anyone who undermined me so when someone was
undermined me so when someone was
undermined me so when someone was physically verbally or emotionally
physically verbally or emotionally
physically verbally or emotionally bullying me I could stand up for myself
bullying me I could stand up for myself
bullying me I could stand up for myself it helps you realize who you really are
it helps you realize who you really are
it helps you realize who you really are taught me realized who I was so anyways
taught me realized who I was so anyways
taught me realized who I was so anyways I for example sometimes bullies make fun
I for example sometimes bullies make fun
I for example sometimes bullies make fun of people for something that they love
of people for something that they love
of people for something that they love to do but they should never let go of it
to do but they should never let go of it
to do but they should never let go of it when someone makes fun of me for
when someone makes fun of me for
when someone makes fun of me for something that I love doing it to do I
something that I love doing it to do I
something that I love doing it to do I never let go of it not once
never let go of it not once
never let go of it not once we strive to bring you down they would
we strive to bring you down they would
we strive to bring you down they would never consider what’s best for you
never consider what’s best for you
never consider what’s best for you actually
actually
actually so for example I used to play karta and
so for example I used to play karta and
so for example I used to play karta and all the guys in my class kept making fun
all the guys in my class kept making fun
all the guys in my class kept making fun of me and saying you can’t hit you can’t
of me and saying you can’t hit you can’t
of me and saying you can’t hit you can’t take heart eh you can do anything but I
take heart eh you can do anything but I
take heart eh you can do anything but I ignored them
ignored them
ignored them karate was something I enjoyed doing and
karate was something I enjoyed doing and
karate was something I enjoyed doing and I wasn’t going to let them take that
I wasn’t going to let them take that
I wasn’t going to let them take that away from me another thing that helped
away from me another thing that helped
away from me another thing that helped me love myself was the character in
me love myself was the character in
me love myself was the character in sitcom called How I Met Your Mother
sitcom called How I Met Your Mother
sitcom called How I Met Your Mother named Barney Stinson I saw how he always
named Barney Stinson I saw how he always
named Barney Stinson I saw how he always said that he was awesome and I liked
said that he was awesome and I liked
said that he was awesome and I liked that
that
that so I started to tell myself that I was
so I started to tell myself that I was
so I started to tell myself that I was awesome and by time I believed that I
awesome and by time I believed that I
awesome and by time I believed that I believe that I was awesome and I was
believe that I was awesome and I was
believe that I was awesome and I was satisfied with myself and if I’m
satisfied with myself and if I’m
satisfied with myself and if I’m satisfied with myself I don’t need to
satisfied with myself I don’t need to
satisfied with myself I don’t need to listen to somebody who criticizes me you
listen to somebody who criticizes me you
listen to somebody who criticizes me you if someone makes fun
if someone makes fun
if someone makes fun if someone says you’re ugly or pretty it
if someone says you’re ugly or pretty it
if someone says you’re ugly or pretty it doesn’t even instantly make you that you
doesn’t even instantly make you that you
doesn’t even instantly make you that you are beautiful when you know you are and
are beautiful when you know you are and
are beautiful when you know you are and you are strong when you know your
you are strong when you know your
you are strong when you know your self-worth billing was a very dark time
self-worth billing was a very dark time
self-worth billing was a very dark time for me indeed but I always knew that
for me indeed but I always knew that
for me indeed but I always knew that things will get better that positive
things will get better that positive
things will get better that positive thought it kept me going it gave me hope
thought it kept me going it gave me hope
thought it kept me going it gave me hope I had a will to make things better and
I had a will to make things better and
I had a will to make things better and that actually paid off because they
that actually paid off because they
that actually paid off because they really do no matter what people might
really do no matter what people might
really do no matter what people might say to bring you down so I started
say to bring you down so I started
say to bring you down so I started thinking more positively I started
thinking more positively I started
thinking more positively I started trying to put positive thoughts
trying to put positive thoughts
trying to put positive thoughts everywhere for example in my alone big
everywhere for example in my alone big
everywhere for example in my alone big time I channeled that a long time and
time I channeled that a long time and
time I channeled that a long time and something more positive what I did was
something more positive what I did was
something more positive what I did was as simple as getting books to read and
as simple as getting books to read and
as simple as getting books to read and notebooks to write funny and adventure
notebooks to write funny and adventure
notebooks to write funny and adventure stories in yeah who needs school friends
stories in yeah who needs school friends
stories in yeah who needs school friends Harry Potter and fictional characters I
Harry Potter and fictional characters I
Harry Potter and fictional characters I create can be my besties
and I ended up actually enjoying all my
and I ended up actually enjoying all my alone time and when I look back I
alone time and when I look back I
alone time and when I look back I remember a lot of memories simply what
remember a lot of memories simply what
remember a lot of memories simply what I’m trying to say find something you
I’m trying to say find something you
I’m trying to say find something you love and hold onto it like a jacket in
love and hold onto it like a jacket in
love and hold onto it like a jacket in the middle of the sea a life jacket in
the middle of the sea a life jacket in
the middle of the sea a life jacket in the middle of the sea because that will
the middle of the sea because that will
the middle of the sea because that will help you in the battle of bullying and
help you in the battle of bullying and
help you in the battle of bullying and loneliness although I never fully
loneliness although I never fully
loneliness although I never fully survived bullying I’m sad I’m more
survived bullying I’m sad I’m more
survived bullying I’m sad I’m more satisfied and happy with my life right
satisfied and happy with my life right
satisfied and happy with my life right now
now
now although the bullying never stopped and
although the bullying never stopped and
although the bullying never stopped and I said it had a little negative effects
I said it had a little negative effects
I said it had a little negative effects on me I’m so much happier right now and
on me I’m so much happier right now and
on me I’m so much happier right now and everything everything got better even
everything everything got better even
everything everything got better even some of my ex bullies even became my
some of my ex bullies even became my
some of my ex bullies even became my best friends including that guy so I
best friends including that guy so I
best friends including that guy so I want to say I want to say one last I
want to say I want to say one last I
want to say I want to say one last I won’t say something never underestimate
won’t say something never underestimate
won’t say something never underestimate the power of parents in helping you
the power of parents in helping you
the power of parents in helping you through anything in fact you should
through anything in fact you should
through anything in fact you should never ever underestimate the power of
never ever underestimate the power of
never ever underestimate the power of anyone who actually cares about you and
anyone who actually cares about you and
anyone who actually cares about you and helping you through anything because
helping you through anything because
helping you through anything because there is always someone who cares about
there is always someone who cares about
there is always someone who cares about you and you should care about yourself
you and you should care about yourself
you and you should care about yourself too because you deserve this care to be
too because you deserve this care to be
too because you deserve this care to be honest I don’t want to end this talk in
honest I don’t want to end this talk in
honest I don’t want to end this talk in some cliched or cheesy dialogue but I
some cliched or cheesy dialogue but I
some cliched or cheesy dialogue but I want to say one last thing for my
want to say one last thing for my
want to say one last thing for my bullies I would have never been this
bullies I would have never been this
bullies I would have never been this strong made great friends or do the
strong made great friends or do the
strong made great friends or do the things I love or survive every day
things I love or survive every day
things I love or survive every day problems without you or let alone doing
problems without you or let alone doing
problems without you or let alone doing a TED talk without you so thank you for
a TED talk without you so thank you for
a TED talk without you so thank you for bullying me
bullying me
bullying me [Applause]
”
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