"I'm 13 years old and not very cute, or so people say. The kids in my eighth grade classes think that if you're not 5' 4" and 100 pounds then you don't deserve to be happy. For the past three years I have been called names such as fag, gay, lesbian, worthless piece of trash -- all just because I'm overweight. What people don't understand is that the saying 'sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me' is the biggest lie. Words can hurt badly. They bring down your self-esteem, and your love for yourself and for others. From now on I'm going to stand up for myself and others who have been called names. We can't let people keep getting hurt because of such foolish and useless acts."

--Stephanie M.