I keep being told I was brave but honestly I'm just stubborn and realized pretty soon that they would bully me no matter what? I tried to fit in a few times, or at least to be more girly, but it always backfired and they would only find other things to bully me for.
So I've just learnt to do what I love, ignore the assholes and assume that they just don't know any better and will hopefully learn and grow to be better people. Pretending obviously won't satisfy anyone so why should I?
Sure it sucks to have gone through all those things but what I learned and the confidence I have in my own path is super valuable now that I have 50-60k eyes on me, some of which only follow me because they hate me.