Now that I am nearing the end of high school, the next step in my life is to go to college, where I plan to further my education so that I can keep helping others. Unfortunately, price is a huge barrier, and seeking solutions to this issue has caused me to reflect on my experiences. Growing up as an African American in the South meant many things. It meant family, amazing food, and beautiful summers. Unfortunately, it also meant that I was often the main target of ignorance from others. Being unlike others in my community did not help, and I often went to seek refuge on the internet. I grew up with the internet. As it developed further, so did I. Because of this, I have interacted with just about every person you can meet. Unfortunately, that often included cyberbullies. As a child, it was unfortunate to encounter the mean statements that these faceless people could spew. I quickly realized that reasoning often did not work on people empowered by their anonymity, and I began to fear interacting with people online. However, as I got older and more used to the internet's antics, I found ways to dodge the negativity: the block button! While it may seem like a useless tactic, it is something that may not immediately come to mind when overwhelmed by internet bullies. Many of these people only have access to you online, and by blocking them, you rid them of the power to affect your day. I encourage everyone around me to try this instead of going back and forth, and usually, this simple technique is foolproof. Unfortunately, there is no real-life version of the block button, so it may be harder to ignore mean behavior from people around you, but with a few extra steps, you can apply a similar technique. First, remember that their words do not mean anything unless you give them meaning. The comments and jokes made towards me for things out of my control had extreme effects on my self-esteem, and it took me a long time to realize I did not have to allow that. This might be the hardest thing to internalize, for devaluing the opinions of others is easier said than done. I advise others to say nice things to themselves in the mirror whenever they get the chance. While this may seem useless, it is proven to increase a person's sense of self-worth. The next step is to remind yourself that everything in life is temporary, and things will often get worse before they get better. This is likely the most important, as it can help reduce the effect of the words and actions of others. People can be cruel, I know from personal experience, and it often feels like it is your entire world, and nothing will ever get better, but before you know it, things change, and you realize that these moments won't end your world unless you let it. The last step I recommend to others is similar to the technique for cyberbullying: the art of ignoring. As I mentioned before, you cannot block people in real life, but by treating them with indifference and ignoring their antics, you will often discourage them from bothering you. These tactics and mindsets are all things that I try to instill in those around me, whether they are my younger siblings or even my peers. Through this advice, I hope to use my experience to help others in a way that I had to figure out on my own.