What has changed since then: higher self-confidence, improved social skills, lower BMI. What hasn’t changed since then: proud nerd, bad at sports, amateur reader and gamer, popular science fan, childish behavior. I chose that picture because it was then when harassment by boys who were one and two years older began. It was subtle at […]
In high school, I was teased for a number of things. My name, the way I dressed, and for my love of reading and learning. I didn’t have many friends for this reason, but now I’m 21 years old, and living life to the fullest. What changed? I did. I realized after years of always […]
13 is one really tough age. 7th, maybe 8th grade. Afraid of interacting with girls. All different states of puberty. I remember the bullies. Ethan. One year older. Decided my “Mattel VRooom Motor” was a sissy toy. I actually agree with him now, with 45 years hindsight. Chased me with his 10-speed. Broke my sissy […]
When I was 12 I had crazy curly hair, was a bit overweight and very pale (not in a cool vampire way). At this age I suffered from severe anemia and doctors told me I should avoid getting tired and I was excused from gym classes. This was what got my overweight and extremely pale […]
8th grade was probably my worst year growing up. On top of not knowing how to tame my curly/frizzy hair and wearing braces, I also had to put up with a friend bullying me and pushing me out of our circle of friends (it had to do with jealousy, I was later told). Everyone around […]