It was 2003, my first day of high school. I was a freshman, in a new house, at a new school with a lot of unfamiliar faces. It was the worst feeling I had ever felt. Growing up we moved a lot, but prior to moving I was in the same school for three years, and it felt good to be in the same place for quite a while. Then we moved. This place was a rich area, and my family didn't necessarily fit in.
So here I was, in my Goodwill jeans, and KMart shirt, surrounded by pretty girls dressed in Old Navy and Gap and feeling more out of place than ever before. My parents did everything they could to make us look good, but sometimes it was hard. I could see the snooty looks, and the weird stares, but I didn't want it to get me down. I spent that first day of school, sitting alone in class, alone at the lunch table, and walking alone to each class room. I remember feeling so left out and not wanted, and spent a fifteen minute break in the bathroom stall crying. When the bell at 2:30 rang, I could not wait to get out of there, but was weary of going to my first soccer practice. 3:00 was the time to be there and I rushed to get dressed and headed to the field.
Here I was, the girl who didn't fit in with her second hand clothes, schooling these kids at soccer. The team was co-ed and when I blew past the best boy on the team and scored a goal on our talented goalie, looks on peoples faces changed, and then I was the new girl with second hand clothes, but rocked at soccer. This gave me their respect and from that goal on, I was liked and treated well. This made the second, third, and the rest of the year a great one. Girls wanted me to come over for sleepovers, go to the mall with them, and sit with them at lunch.
I spent two years at this school, and when it was time to move this time, it was sad. Friends that I made didn't want me to go, and I didn't want to leave either. We moved two hours away and this time moving to a new school wasn't so hard. I was a junior and I went into the small, private school and ruled the school. Everyone wanted to be my friend, and suddenly the feeling of being left out or unwanted was never visited again. This made my junior and senior years ones to never forget. I had the best sleep overs at my house, staying up all night and being silly, were the times I would never take back. Sneaking out, and getting caught and grounded, eating lots of junk food, and doing each others hair for different sporting events. I remember spending time thinking and reflecting on my life and feeling tremendous amounts of joy over flowing me. Happiness because my life had changed and I didn't have to have the best clothes from the best stores, I just had to be me.
Now, a high school graduate, I spent a lot time remembering the days I was in high school. It made me remember who I was, and how I became who I was. Being picked on and left out made me make sure to include everyone in activities and going out and sleep overs. No one was left out anymore, and this made me be a better person, and I was happy knowing that no one felt insecure. Being treated horribly made me who I am today. Someone who stands up for anyone and who doesn't tolerate bullies. I was bullied, but it made me a better person. Some kids aren't that lucky and don't learn before it is to late. I am happy to be part of a time where at least one school didn't have any bullies. This is a time period over my life, I will never forget and will teach my children about.
