I permanently clam up in school

I support you bro FUCK TEH BULLIES!

I pity those who are so pathetic is to make such childish replies above this post.

Personally - you should not be afraid to be yourself, Yes - people will make fun of you - Why? Because humans are pathetically predictable like that.
Everyone who is not Like Them - they make fun of. Everyone who is different - they make fun of.
I was bullied a lot when i first went to school, had the most common dorky haircut, i was just an ordinary guy, always picked on, teachers never believed me, seemed like everything was against me...

in Grade 8 or 9, i decided to make it stop, i have built up enough wrath and strength to say "Enough of this Sh*t".
One time - the typical class bully tried to make himself look all mighty at my expense.. i grabbed him by the collar and blasted him through the shut classroom door, he hit me full force in the face but i didn't even blink, he said that it felt like he hit solid steel, i punched him in the gut and he fell to the floor, if the other students didn't pull me away from him - he would've been sent to the hospital.
From that day, everyone knew that i am not to be trifled with.
That weak bully served as an example.
I was never an aggressive person, i was always nice, always helping out those who need help, i never care for what a person looks like ("fat" nor skinny), how the person dresses, or anything in general - it was always about what's on the inside, i always treated women with respect and i still do, i was always immeasurably more mature than anyone else in the school - they saw that as weakness, i showed them that this is not weakness - it is Power.
The Power to say that "i AM Different, and YOU - are all exactly the same.".
The Power to be myself, and do what i know is right.

It only takes 1 thing to make everyone else to either respect you or At Least not give you any trouble.

But of course, i transformed my wrath and strength to prove once an for all - to not mess with me nor those i hold close.

All i can recommend for you - is to not be afraid to be who you are, don't be afraid to stand out, WHO can tell you who you should be and who you should not? What you should wear and what you shouldn't? How you should THINK like and how you should not?

What is the point of living if you don't do what you want to do with your life?

Remember - it is much easier to change the world than adapt to it.

I'm in the same situation. I do all this school crap: two choirs, the I.B. program, the lit mag, HP club... but I'm just not a person for, like, "groups" of friends. I'm pretty independent -- you must be too.

By the way, don't sweat being bullied. Everyone has been, and it only starts because one person that is self-conscious on their own gets everyone to do it.

Dude those guys picking on you are ass'. As for the clamming up and not talking, all that can help you is practice. Start talking at counters in convenience stores, move on up to classmates, random people you see every day, and soon you'll be talking in public easy as...ke$ha. Ba-zing

I'm on that same track

It will be much better once you are out of high school. Trust me. I had the same experience. Those assholes who bully you are the best they are ever going to be in life, period. You, on the other hand, are just hitting your stride and haven't reached your full potential. I know it sucks right now. But it will get better.

I struggled with the same thing, but I want you to know that once you're out of high school all these people won't matter. And to be honest, the things that made you weird growing up will be the things that make you stand out (in a good way) as an adult. I'm 23 now and could careless about the people I went to high school with. I think most people at my school feel the same way now.

Maybe try making friends outside of the school arena. This way people won't have any preconceived notions about who you are. People will be able to get to know you're true self. Get involved in a summer group, or take part in a summer camp that interests you (like a music camp, sports camp, etc). You could also try meeting people through volunteering or getting involved in a church or community group.

Stay strong and follow your passions. Spend this time developing your talents and getting closer to your family. Much love*

I had that problem when I moved school, everyone already had their own cliques and I was a newcomer. I kept my mouth shut a lot, and when people talked to me I'd say a few words and that was it. But then I got over my shyness and began talking to people, I got bullied for having an English accent, I still do sometimes but I either slap the person who goes to far bullying or me and my friends ignore them. They did ignore me a bit but then I kept talking, getting put into a pair with them in class. One girl, I didn't talk to for over three years, we moved to highschool together and I walk to school with her so I can talk to her by myself and fit in with her and her friends who went to a different school. If people ignore you and talk to someone else, if you ever see them alone or anything, walk up and start a conversation, ask about work, see if they have problems with the same subjects as you, if they're good at them, ask for a bit of help, then you spend more time together. I don't think I helped much but, I just wrote what I thought and that's all I can do :)

That is terrible what happened to you bullying wise and the repercussions right through high school. Now you are shut out of these high school cliques. Bleah...

And you seem to have so much going for you. Great gpa, athletic, involved.

You won't be lonely forever just cause you are at the moment - thats blowing things out of proportion a bit.

I think keep up with the activities & you'll meet more people, and someone special. Forget that horrid victimization & just you keep believing in yourself!

Maybe do outreach yourself, like be the one who makes the calls & organizes fun.

One other point. Make sure you are not looking for acceptance from the wrong people.

I have gone through that too. And unfortunately I cannot say my life is much better at all.
Right now, ALL my friends are on Facebook. I have a few that want to hang out now and then but it never happens..

I'm so sorry to hear that, it makes me sad for you :(. I understand where you're coming from--sometimes it feels like there's really nowhere that I fit. That will change, though, I'm sure. The people that say "high school is the best years of your life?" Total lie. High school SUCKS. Most genuinely cool people go on to do much bigger and better things after high school, and even the ones who enjoyed it will find it pales in comparison to the rest of their lives. Cliques are dumb--they can make you feel awful, but really don't mean anything. I completely understand your struggles, and I feel for you, but I honestly believe it will get better. You sound smart and nice, and I can't imagine why people wouldn't want to get to know you. In college, things will be different--you'll find people who appreciate you, instead of making you doubt yourself. You will go back to being the fun, carefree, life of the party girl you're used to , with some real friends to back you up :). Best of luck, sweetie.

Is your clam hairy?

big baby suck ir up