This is harassment. But you are not alone: we’re here to help.

We are sorry that you had to go through this. Remember: you are not to blame for what happened and have the right to feel safe at school. First, we advise you to immediately share this incident with people you trust. It can be your family, friends, teachers, or loved ones. You may contact the Runaway hotline, which will sort out any problems you may have experienced at school. For help in case of sexual harassment and violence, contact RAINN. If unwelcome behavior involves physical violence, it is advisable to share the incident with the police. Try to stop communicating and having any interactions with a person who mistreats you. If the act of harassment occurred recently, take steps to document it. Gather all possible evidence of the harassment, if there is any. These might be, for example, messaging history, photos, or videos depicting the harassing behaviors or their results. You can also write the incident down. Please read the following advice on how you can protect yourself: first, check if your school has a harassment policy. If so, follow the policy regarding how you can report harassment; second, you can file a harassment complaint with your school or district. Some schools and states’ departments of education provide Uniform Complaint forms. Include as many details in your complaint as possible;third, suppose your case was not resolved at the educational institution, or you want to file a complaint to another competent body. In that case, you can file the OCR complaint with the Federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. You can also file a complaint with your State’s Department of Education (Education Agency). Here, you usually shall report harassment within 180 days since the last act occurred;finally, you can also file a lawsuit for harassment in court.Always remember that you have a right to feel safe, and there are always those willing to help you. It is also essential to refer your case to a competent lawyer who can help you take legal action against the harassment.