Believe in yourself, not bullies

Believe it or not - bullies could let you down, only if you let them do it. A sharp, witty remark will shut their mouth.
Julian Wilcox, principal of Dubai International Academy, said: "It's either insecurity or a reaction to previous bullying they've experienced."
So next time when you face a bully, take it lightly and pity them. A few Dubai residents shared their experience with Khaleej Times..
Mozza Suwaidi, Emirati (17)
"Everyone called me a "shorty", which made me lose my self-confidence and esteem. Bullies just want to feel good about themselves but I realised I have to believe in myself and I didn't let them put me down."
Rojeena Qawasmy, Lebanese (17 -year-old)
"They made fun of me because I was different. They mimicked how I talked, behaved and acted. But I realised people bully because they want to hide their insecurities and put the attention on others rather than themselves."
Jana Kaddoura, Palestinian (17)
"Cyberbullying) used to upset me a lot because I know myself and I wasn't like what they said about me. So I talked to my best friend about it because I didn't want to bottle it."
Rama Ibrahim, Jordanian (18)
"Bullying is very prevalent in Canada and I was new to the country, so they teased me about my accent and called me names like 'fat'. I talked to my mom about it. I used to hate going to school but eventually I just ignored them and became the big person."
Wafa Al Alawy, Palestinian (18)
"I was teased for my nationality and for not wearing a scarf. Students and teachers even from the same nationality treated me like an outsider. If you stood up for yourself, they'll think you're showing off and if you didn't, they'll think you're weak. I think you should just ignore the bullies.
(Compiled by Sherouk Zakaria)

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai