I said, “Please respect yourself.”

I was heading home from school while wearing my Universal Camouflage Pattern ACU uniform because I am in the JROTC program. On my way, I faced a group of guys walking my way about 150 ft away. They start yelling, “Yo are you in the air force?”

Then they nudged each other and laughed, then repeated it all over again. From that, I learned that they just wanted to mess around, so I ignored them.

However, as I passed by, one of them said, “Look at them big juicy tits,” followed by “That ass should hop on my dick.”

And let me remind you, I was wearing an army uniform meaning that it is no way “sexual” or even appealing. Anyways, I continued walking because the words hadn’t registered in my mind yet. But once they did, I turned around and to my shock they’re standing right in their place looking back at me. So, I said, “Please respect yourself.”

They acted like they couldn’t hear and laughed. So, I turned around and continued on my way home and I balled my eyes out. I regretted my decision to speak back at them. I wished that I had ignored them.

Once I was home, I felt like I wanted to cry again, but I was just too tired. Instead of studying, I just sat on my bed thinking of the scene over and over again. Thinking of what I should have done and what should I do now. It’s the worst feeling on the planet. I told some adults, but all I received was “sorry”s and “shrug it off”s.

Actual help?

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Teach boys not to sexualize women

– Anonymous

Location: Right outside school