I think that when we are younger, we don't have the tools (maybe some) to deal with it. I also think that if you have someone that you can talk to who can guide you, and give you the tools to deal and cope, that also helps down the road.
I was bullied as a child and even as an adult. The difference now is, I have more tools to use to deal with this. I can identify the "type" of bully in terms of similar ones in the past and try different ways of defusing the situation. Sometimes if you win the fight you lose the war. Then again, if you lose the fight, sometimes you win the war.