I know I've had a cool day at school -- not when I get A's in class, but when I make it through the day without someone making fun of me.

I know you all know what I am talking about. Whether you are the one being teased or the one doing the teasing. Derogatory remarks about your looks, weight, hair, being smart, not being smart, you name it. Or just because you happen to be the one walking down the hallways and a group sees you and decides to tease, tease and tease.

Students put each other down and insult one another to see who is strong, who can take it, and who can actually dish it out. It's part of living through high school. Some students who live with constant teasing get frustrated, stay out of school to avoid it and when it comes time to leave school and how to go from point A to point B so as to avoid the "teaser".

I’ve been teased in high school. As soon as I leave a class and go to my locker or outside, a group of guys and girls linger around the hallways begin their daily rantings. Thankfully I have a great group of friends and we look out for each other. Some kids are not so lucky.

It doesn't bother me as much as it seems to upset other students. My friends have a lot to do with that. Also I live in the inner city and I have other things to worry about. We're more street smart and self-reliant than teens from the suburbs, I think. It's all about survival, and it really doesn't matter what people say or think about you.

It's not that I love being teased, but you know how it goes. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger ~ so they say. I guess I'll be climbing mountains later on.