In 1980, in Houston, Texas, I was bullied in high school. I ignored the gang and the bullying grew worse. The first major attack was at a bonfire party and about 30 teens attacked me in my car. A number of them showed up later that night at my home and attacked my family in our front yard. My family was terrorized for months including horrible death threats of our bodies being found in a bag in bloody pieces. I was attacked with bats, chains and tire irons on multiple occasions. My friends were also attacked with bricks and constantly threatened to stay away from me. I was completely ostracized. I nearly failed every class after having been a consistent straight-A honor student. My family had to hire private security and arm ourselves. Our life was a gut-wrenching nightmare from which we couldn't wake. After several nervous breakdowns, while I refused to back down, we beat the bullies in a court of law and I became the first person in the country to hold parents legally responsible for the actions of their kids.