Sophmore Bree Carbaugh is dealing with a history of being victimized by making positive changes in her life. Recently several students have made apologies to Carbaugh for previous bullying incidents.

By Alyssa Lovell | Copy Editor

While walking along the side of the road, she hears a vehicle coming up behind her. The passengers roll down the windows as they flash by, spewing derisions and obscenities.

This comes as no surprise to sophomore Bree Carbaugh, who has a history with bullying.

“These days, my life is a roller coaster,” Carbaugh said. “People don’t understand I have a difficult life… In result, they do things that are very hard on me.”

According to Carbaugh, who is enrolled at the Harding Learning Center, incidents like these started in her childhood and still occur today.

“Just this week, I’ve received phone calls in which I was just harassed,” Carbaugh said. “They use things they know about my personal life to their advantage while adding in foul language and obscene names.”

According to Carbaugh, more and more people over the years have gained amusement from harassing her. She said the people who victimize her often scorn her despite not knowing her personally, or are embarrassed for ever expressing a positive interest in her.

“I find it funny at times, but it used to make me not want to be alive,” Carbaugh said. “Even sometimes when I am down… I get thoughts that aren’t good for my health.”

Whenever Carbaugh is depressed, she cycles through a range of activities to get her mind off her feelings. Junior Christofer Thomas, another student at Harding Learning Center, has known Carbaugh since elementary school and endeavors to help her. He supports her through tough times, and she returns the favor.

“She’ll text me if she’s having a bad day,” Thomas said. “She makes me talk to her if I am having one too. She does her best to help me.”

Last November, sophomore Christy Laube wrote an apology to Carbaugh over Facebook, asking forgiveness for past actions. She said the inspiration for her apology came from thinking about girls being rude to each other.

“The first girl that came up in my mind was Bree,” Laube said. “I’ve known her since kindergarten and since then she has gotten bullied because of her weight.”

Thoughts like these kept Laube’s mind on the subject.

“I thought back to elementary school. Everyone bullied her, even me,” Laube said. “The saying ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is very wrong. Words do hurt. I felt bad and had to apologize.”

Though Laube’s apology was not the first to come Carbaugh’s way, it still made an impact.

“When I read Christy’s apology, I have to admit I started tearing up. It felt so good; it lifted a weight off my shoulders. It was one less person who hated my existence,” Carbaugh said. “I couldn’t stop smiling for a week after that.”

Former MHS student Shayla Morris, a sophomore, has also recently made an apology to Carbaugh.

“I realized it was something I needed to do,” Morris said.

Morris appreciates how Carbaugh holds herself these days.

“She is able to smile,” Morris said. “That takes a lot of courage right there.”

Harding Learning Center teacher Dan Monroe said Carbaugh has a cheerful atmosphere.

“She always looks like she is plotting to do something joyful or fun,” Monroe said. “She is a good person to have during a dark and rainy day.”

Laube believes just a little bit of goodness can affect others forever.

“A little bit of kindness can go a long way,” Laube said.

Carbaugh wants others, especially those who have been bullied, to know there is a light at the end of every tunnel.

“Darkness only exists with light close by,” Carbaugh said. “… It may be really bad now, but it will always get better.”