I'm sorry you had to go through that, and it's great you found a way to overcome the bullying. Really clever, and admirable coping skills.
I'm female, so maybe that's why I was never bullied, although I was very much an individual.I was bullied at home, though, by my older brothers. The way I coped with that was never to give in. No matter what they did to me (threw me off the side of a cliff once, although they did give me the option of grabbing a tree vine) I would go back and face them again.
When I became a teacher I made sure no one was ever bullied in my class, not even the subtle stuff, like laughing at an awkward comment by a vulnerable student. I once had a student who asked her therapist (it was a private school for adolescents with psychological issues) if she could take my class again because she felt safe there. That was the best compliment I ever received as a teacher.
I like this community. School..some of the worst days and best days in my life were in school, as a student.
That's great that you were able to give them an environment like that. Kids need it these days more than ever!