Stand Up or be Stand On

Short story: reacting to The Use Of Force by William Carlos William

There come times where you must face certain situations that, been a kid and all, you did not know could happen. Most of the time we do not get that the little things are what marks and shapes us forever. So maybe for you, reader, this is just some silly experience but for me it determined my vision on the world and what been “different” meant for others around me.

I was in third grade when all happened. I considered myself a normal kid in school, I was friends with the coolest kids in school so that meant I was cool too, or so I thought. It took me a long time to realize what friendship really looked like, but that’s another story. There was a new substitute teacher and my friends really liked her so that meant I really liked her too. The weird thing is that she did not seem to like me back.

She made fun of me, called me out in class and made me feel inadequate. My friends did not find it weird, well actually no one did, that was the first time I realized I was different. I loved my friends so much, that was the reason I always wanted their acceptance, but it was in that situation that I realized I’ve never been treated like a truly friend by them. They were always making fun of me and putting me down but I never saw it until a teacher, who was supposed to be my role model, treated me the same. That was why my friends did not notice something weird. To them that was the treatment I deserved. That’s when I knew something was wrong.

That was the start of a long journey of acceptance. Even in my lowest moments I was born to fight back, I guess that is why I told my mom everything, and ended my friendship with all those people. I always knew, deep down, even at that age where maybe I did not get a lot of what was happening or how my life was going to change forever by those decisions that no one deserved to be put down by anyone, not even a teacher or friends.

Sometimes you can feel intimidated by an authority figure but that should never stop you from speaking at loud if something’s happening that makes you feel uncomfortable. You are beautiful and anyone that says otherwise does not deserve to be in your life.



When i'm feeling blue i always turn to this amazing song..