This document contains a creative non-fiction writing sample by Nancy Kanter about confronting her high school bullies at a reunion. The sample describes how Kanter was bullied for her looks from elementary through high school, often skipping school to avoid it. At her reunion, Kanter gathered the courage to confront four of her main bullies and ask them why they treated her poorly. Three apologized, with two admitting they took out their insecurities on others. The experience helped Kanter realize the bullying reflected the bullies' own insecurities rather than something wrong with her.
Living recovery out loud is not something that’s possible for everyone. Anonymity is a personal choice and should always remain up to the individual. I want to make that absolutely clear, since there may be those who will disagree with what I have to say about choosing to live my recovery out loud.
The document is a student's final project analyzing the short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. It provides a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis and interpretation of key themes and messages within the story, such as the power dynamics between the mother and daughter, societal expectations of women, and exploring one's own identity. The student draws connections between the story and issues that remain relevant to modern society.
1) The document describes the experience of Maryann Adedapo, who was born in Texas to Nigerian immigrant parents. Though her parents are Nigerian, she was raised speaking English and does not know the Yoruba language well.
2) Maryann feels like an outsider among both African and African American groups. Africans see her as "too American" because she was raised in the US, while African Americans say she "sounds white."
3) These experiences of exclusion have been hurtful at times. However, Maryann has learned to accept herself and surround herself with diverse friends who will not judge her.
Autimisms: It’s an optimistic outlook about one’s autism journey. The Second Little E-book of Autimisms is Geek Club Books’ most recent collection of positive thoughts by autism and special needs mom bloggers. They share their own personal experiences to send you a message of hope. It is our greatest wish that their words will lift you up and carry you on your own autism journey. You are not alone.
Project Heart Touch - Finding Support on Your Autism JourneyJodi Murphy
This document provides an overview of several Facebook communities that offer support for individuals with autism, Asperger's syndrome, and special needs, as well as their families. The communities offer a variety of themes, including humor, positivity, strategies and interventions, personal stories, resources, and serving as a place for members to find understanding and non-judgmental support. The administrators of each community discuss what readers can gain from their pages, including laughter, feeling less isolated, magic moments of connection, and pride in helping others. The communities aim to lift members up during their autism journeys and ensure that no one facing these challenges feels alone.
On the Margins of Hookup Culture: Student Diversity and Sex on Campuslisawadephd
Hooking up is most widely practiced, endorsed, and controlled by students with intersectional privilege. But everyone on residential colleges campuses are living with hookup culture. What's it like to be in it, but not of it? This talk centers religious students, romantics, students of color, and queer and gender queer students, exploring what we do and don't know about their experiences.
We are all broken in some way. How we respond to our brokenness depends upon good fortune and the beliefs we develop. In our everyday life, we seek meaning, connection, fulfillment, and love. This seeking is built into our DNA and is necessary for our survival in infancy. Throughout our lives, seeking and its fulfillment give meaning to our lives. In this article, I discuss these ideas and illustrate them with examples from my personal life and from my research on resilience and the meanings of violence to perpetrators. I conclude with reflections on beliefs and spiritual longing.
Living recovery out loud is not something that’s possible for everyone. Anonymity is a personal choice and should always remain up to the individual. I want to make that absolutely clear, since there may be those who will disagree with what I have to say about choosing to live my recovery out loud.
The document is a student's final project analyzing the short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid. It provides a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis and interpretation of key themes and messages within the story, such as the power dynamics between the mother and daughter, societal expectations of women, and exploring one's own identity. The student draws connections between the story and issues that remain relevant to modern society.
1) The document describes the experience of Maryann Adedapo, who was born in Texas to Nigerian immigrant parents. Though her parents are Nigerian, she was raised speaking English and does not know the Yoruba language well.
2) Maryann feels like an outsider among both African and African American groups. Africans see her as "too American" because she was raised in the US, while African Americans say she "sounds white."
3) These experiences of exclusion have been hurtful at times. However, Maryann has learned to accept herself and surround herself with diverse friends who will not judge her.
Autimisms: It’s an optimistic outlook about one’s autism journey. The Second Little E-book of Autimisms is Geek Club Books’ most recent collection of positive thoughts by autism and special needs mom bloggers. They share their own personal experiences to send you a message of hope. It is our greatest wish that their words will lift you up and carry you on your own autism journey. You are not alone.
Project Heart Touch - Finding Support on Your Autism JourneyJodi Murphy
This document provides an overview of several Facebook communities that offer support for individuals with autism, Asperger's syndrome, and special needs, as well as their families. The communities offer a variety of themes, including humor, positivity, strategies and interventions, personal stories, resources, and serving as a place for members to find understanding and non-judgmental support. The administrators of each community discuss what readers can gain from their pages, including laughter, feeling less isolated, magic moments of connection, and pride in helping others. The communities aim to lift members up during their autism journeys and ensure that no one facing these challenges feels alone.
On the Margins of Hookup Culture: Student Diversity and Sex on Campuslisawadephd
Hooking up is most widely practiced, endorsed, and controlled by students with intersectional privilege. But everyone on residential colleges campuses are living with hookup culture. What's it like to be in it, but not of it? This talk centers religious students, romantics, students of color, and queer and gender queer students, exploring what we do and don't know about their experiences.
We are all broken in some way. How we respond to our brokenness depends upon good fortune and the beliefs we develop. In our everyday life, we seek meaning, connection, fulfillment, and love. This seeking is built into our DNA and is necessary for our survival in infancy. Throughout our lives, seeking and its fulfillment give meaning to our lives. In this article, I discuss these ideas and illustrate them with examples from my personal life and from my research on resilience and the meanings of violence to perpetrators. I conclude with reflections on beliefs and spiritual longing.
This document summarizes the author's personal philosophy developed through a difficult childhood growing up with an addicted mother and abusive stepfamily. He learned from a young age that he needed to be creatively adaptive to survive. As a teen, he engaged in illegal activity but realized education could help him succeed. After serving in the military, he pursued higher education, though struggled to balance school with his personal life at times. His philosophy is that constant creative change and problem-solving allowed him to overcome challenges.
This document is a reflective paper written by Randall Noggle for a psychology course. It summarizes his difficult upbringing with absent parents in a dysfunctional home. As a teenager, he abused drugs and distanced himself from his family. After high school, he moved around and eventually entered rehabilitation programs. He is now sober and pursuing higher education, with goals of helping others avoid the mistakes of his past.
The document describes the author's experience as a child befriending another boy who was often considered a bully. Through getting to know him, the author realized the boy had experienced difficulties in his life and acted out due to pain and sadness rather than being inherently mean. Their friendship helped the boy become a better person, showing that people should try understanding others before judging them.
Autimisms - An Optimistic View of Life on the SpectrumJodi Murphy
Our inspirational little e-book of optimism from the women who work with, support and love someone on the autism spectrum. We hope our words lift you up and help you on your own autism journey.
This document contains announcements, notices, and letters related to school events at AEHS, including Senior Week activities, the school song, graduation ceremony policies, and the upcoming prom. It also includes the school lunch menu, personal ads placed by students, and excerpts from conversations between two students discussing whether one will be asked to the prom by her boyfriend.
1) The author recounts being sexually abused at age 12 by older teenage boys and struggling with the trauma of that experience for many years through drug addiction, abusive relationships, and sex trafficking.
2) She has since recovered from drug addiction, become a single mother, and found purpose in helping other survivors through mentoring and outreach work.
3) Reflecting on her past, the author wishes she had told someone what happened as a child so she could have received help and support earlier in dealing with the trauma.
Our life and career are being influenced, for better or worse, by a set of conscious and unconscious filters, which we use to interpret the world around us and make decisions.
How to feel happier and more satisfied in our relationship and sexual life. How to create and maintain a sense of intimacy, connection and freedom. How to avoid peer pressure define our behavior. How to make healthy personal choices, based on our true identity.
Porn exposed and former pornstarlet storyCYRIL ADIBO
Shelley Lubben grew up in a Christian home but her family drifted from the church when she was 9. She had a difficult childhood and teenage years, experiencing sexual abuse and developing addictions to alcohol, drugs, and risky sexual behavior. She became a prostitute and porn actress for 8 years, experiencing the dark side of that industry. After leaving porn, she struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues. Through finding faith and getting married, she was able to overcome her addictions and trauma. She now works to help others leave the porn industry and rebuild their lives through faith.
This document contains Addie Bruyr's senior exit portfolio from Newton High School, including sections on her resume, personal essay, transcript, academic accomplishments, honors and activities, letters of reference, service learning, and personal information. The personal essay describes Addie's difficult freshman year when she switched schools and experienced trauma, her struggles with mental health issues in subsequent years, and how she has matured and grown more confident over time.
This presentation talks about the impact of association on an individuals growth and advancement. Having the right association has the capacity to improve ones influence, character and manner of behavior.
A dive into the complexity of volunteering, and a closer look at the power, privilege, and relationships that surround the stigma of what it means to volunteer.
Autism - One of my Passionate InterestsHolley Jacobs
I did this for an assignment on what one of my favorite interests are and this is definitely not just an interest but, a PASSION. I love my son and would do anything for him. He is my heart and soul!!
Sophia Williams wrote a speech about her belief in respect based on her own experiences. She grew up in an abusive home where her stepfather showed no respect towards her mother, herself, or her sister. This lack of respect impacted her behaviors as a teenager and young adult in the music industry. In 2009, she was involved in a violent altercation with her then-girlfriend Rihanna due to not understanding the importance of respect. This event led her to reflect on her upbringing and work to strengthen her belief in respect for herself and others through anger management classes, community service, and spiritual reflection. She now hopes to inspire others through her experience.
"They'd very much picked up on the change in my behaviour":BASPCAN
The role of friends in the lives of children and young people experiencing abuse.
Debbie Allnock, Research Fellow
The International Centre Researching Child Sexual Exploitation. trafficking and Violence
The University of Bedfordshire
NSPCC
The document is a first-person account from a being called "Blob" that has existed since the year 1 AD and observes humanity. Blob feels lonely and without purpose. Blob is fascinated by humans yet confused by their capacity for violence and war. Blob recalls observing a peaceful black man named James Mitch who was framed and killed by jealous friends, which impacted Blob. Blob wonders about the origins of life and gods. Blob remembers flashes of a past life as a woman named Pandora who was tasked with guarding a mysterious box until she made a sacrifice to help humanity.
Exploring the Rainbow: Genders and Sexualities across Culture and Timelisawadephd
From inside one's own culture, gender and sexual orientation usually seem like rather straightforward phenomenon. In cross-cultural and historical perspective, however, there is nothing straightforward about it. This talk is a shallow but broad overview of a range of ways that different groups have organized gender and sexuality. It's an extraordinary tour that will make audiences take another look at their own cultural assumptions.
Communicating their powerful stories: Strategies for helping under-represente...Rebecca Joseph
This is a new version of my college application essay writing powerpoint with more examples and strategies to help kids write pieces that push their powerful identities. We want kids to show how they are empowering themselves, their families, their schools, and their communities. Go to our website: www.allcollegeessays.org for more strategies.
This document contains a student's submission for a social psychology course. It includes the student's name, student ID number, class schedule, and submission date. The document then discusses several topics related to cognitive biases and social comparisons, including confirmation bias, downward social comparison, and mood-congruence effects. Examples from the student's own experiences are provided to illustrate each concept.
The document provides a summary of qualifications and work experience for Michael R. DeHaan. It outlines his management experience in manufacturing, engineering, quality, and product launch, as well as his experience leading teams and implementing lean manufacturing practices. It also lists his educational background and provides details of his roles and responsibilities in various manufacturing positions over 30 years, most recently as a Product Line Manager at Autocam/NN Inc.
El documento discute los conceptos de libertad y sus diferentes tipos. Define la libertad como la capacidad de cada persona para decidir cómo actuar, vinculada a la responsabilidad y el respeto por los derechos propios y de los demás. Explica que existen dos tipos de libertad: la libertad externa para actuar dentro de la ley, y la libertad interna para tomar decisiones personales. Algunas personas le temen a su libertad y dejan que otros controlen sus acciones.
This document summarizes the author's personal philosophy developed through a difficult childhood growing up with an addicted mother and abusive stepfamily. He learned from a young age that he needed to be creatively adaptive to survive. As a teen, he engaged in illegal activity but realized education could help him succeed. After serving in the military, he pursued higher education, though struggled to balance school with his personal life at times. His philosophy is that constant creative change and problem-solving allowed him to overcome challenges.
This document is a reflective paper written by Randall Noggle for a psychology course. It summarizes his difficult upbringing with absent parents in a dysfunctional home. As a teenager, he abused drugs and distanced himself from his family. After high school, he moved around and eventually entered rehabilitation programs. He is now sober and pursuing higher education, with goals of helping others avoid the mistakes of his past.
The document describes the author's experience as a child befriending another boy who was often considered a bully. Through getting to know him, the author realized the boy had experienced difficulties in his life and acted out due to pain and sadness rather than being inherently mean. Their friendship helped the boy become a better person, showing that people should try understanding others before judging them.
Autimisms - An Optimistic View of Life on the SpectrumJodi Murphy
Our inspirational little e-book of optimism from the women who work with, support and love someone on the autism spectrum. We hope our words lift you up and help you on your own autism journey.
This document contains announcements, notices, and letters related to school events at AEHS, including Senior Week activities, the school song, graduation ceremony policies, and the upcoming prom. It also includes the school lunch menu, personal ads placed by students, and excerpts from conversations between two students discussing whether one will be asked to the prom by her boyfriend.
1) The author recounts being sexually abused at age 12 by older teenage boys and struggling with the trauma of that experience for many years through drug addiction, abusive relationships, and sex trafficking.
2) She has since recovered from drug addiction, become a single mother, and found purpose in helping other survivors through mentoring and outreach work.
3) Reflecting on her past, the author wishes she had told someone what happened as a child so she could have received help and support earlier in dealing with the trauma.
Our life and career are being influenced, for better or worse, by a set of conscious and unconscious filters, which we use to interpret the world around us and make decisions.
How to feel happier and more satisfied in our relationship and sexual life. How to create and maintain a sense of intimacy, connection and freedom. How to avoid peer pressure define our behavior. How to make healthy personal choices, based on our true identity.
Porn exposed and former pornstarlet storyCYRIL ADIBO
Shelley Lubben grew up in a Christian home but her family drifted from the church when she was 9. She had a difficult childhood and teenage years, experiencing sexual abuse and developing addictions to alcohol, drugs, and risky sexual behavior. She became a prostitute and porn actress for 8 years, experiencing the dark side of that industry. After leaving porn, she struggled with alcoholism and mental health issues. Through finding faith and getting married, she was able to overcome her addictions and trauma. She now works to help others leave the porn industry and rebuild their lives through faith.
This document contains Addie Bruyr's senior exit portfolio from Newton High School, including sections on her resume, personal essay, transcript, academic accomplishments, honors and activities, letters of reference, service learning, and personal information. The personal essay describes Addie's difficult freshman year when she switched schools and experienced trauma, her struggles with mental health issues in subsequent years, and how she has matured and grown more confident over time.
This presentation talks about the impact of association on an individuals growth and advancement. Having the right association has the capacity to improve ones influence, character and manner of behavior.
A dive into the complexity of volunteering, and a closer look at the power, privilege, and relationships that surround the stigma of what it means to volunteer.
Autism - One of my Passionate InterestsHolley Jacobs
I did this for an assignment on what one of my favorite interests are and this is definitely not just an interest but, a PASSION. I love my son and would do anything for him. He is my heart and soul!!
Sophia Williams wrote a speech about her belief in respect based on her own experiences. She grew up in an abusive home where her stepfather showed no respect towards her mother, herself, or her sister. This lack of respect impacted her behaviors as a teenager and young adult in the music industry. In 2009, she was involved in a violent altercation with her then-girlfriend Rihanna due to not understanding the importance of respect. This event led her to reflect on her upbringing and work to strengthen her belief in respect for herself and others through anger management classes, community service, and spiritual reflection. She now hopes to inspire others through her experience.
"They'd very much picked up on the change in my behaviour":BASPCAN
The role of friends in the lives of children and young people experiencing abuse.
Debbie Allnock, Research Fellow
The International Centre Researching Child Sexual Exploitation. trafficking and Violence
The University of Bedfordshire
NSPCC
The document is a first-person account from a being called "Blob" that has existed since the year 1 AD and observes humanity. Blob feels lonely and without purpose. Blob is fascinated by humans yet confused by their capacity for violence and war. Blob recalls observing a peaceful black man named James Mitch who was framed and killed by jealous friends, which impacted Blob. Blob wonders about the origins of life and gods. Blob remembers flashes of a past life as a woman named Pandora who was tasked with guarding a mysterious box until she made a sacrifice to help humanity.
Exploring the Rainbow: Genders and Sexualities across Culture and Timelisawadephd
From inside one's own culture, gender and sexual orientation usually seem like rather straightforward phenomenon. In cross-cultural and historical perspective, however, there is nothing straightforward about it. This talk is a shallow but broad overview of a range of ways that different groups have organized gender and sexuality. It's an extraordinary tour that will make audiences take another look at their own cultural assumptions.
Communicating their powerful stories: Strategies for helping under-represente...Rebecca Joseph
This is a new version of my college application essay writing powerpoint with more examples and strategies to help kids write pieces that push their powerful identities. We want kids to show how they are empowering themselves, their families, their schools, and their communities. Go to our website: www.allcollegeessays.org for more strategies.
This document contains a student's submission for a social psychology course. It includes the student's name, student ID number, class schedule, and submission date. The document then discusses several topics related to cognitive biases and social comparisons, including confirmation bias, downward social comparison, and mood-congruence effects. Examples from the student's own experiences are provided to illustrate each concept.
The document provides a summary of qualifications and work experience for Michael R. DeHaan. It outlines his management experience in manufacturing, engineering, quality, and product launch, as well as his experience leading teams and implementing lean manufacturing practices. It also lists his educational background and provides details of his roles and responsibilities in various manufacturing positions over 30 years, most recently as a Product Line Manager at Autocam/NN Inc.
El documento discute los conceptos de libertad y sus diferentes tipos. Define la libertad como la capacidad de cada persona para decidir cómo actuar, vinculada a la responsabilidad y el respeto por los derechos propios y de los demás. Explica que existen dos tipos de libertad: la libertad externa para actuar dentro de la ley, y la libertad interna para tomar decisiones personales. Algunas personas le temen a su libertad y dejan que otros controlen sus acciones.
La litiasis urinaria es la tercera enfermedad más común de las vías urinarias. Los cálculos renales son estructuras cristalinas que se forman en las papilas renales y pueden causar dolor intenso al moverse. El diagnóstico incluye análisis de orina y sangre, radiografías y tomografías computarizadas. El tratamiento depende del tamaño y ubicación del cálculo, e incluye medicamentos para el dolor, litotricia o procedimientos endoscópicos.
This document appears to be a capstone presentation by RDavis consisting of 44 slides. As there is no other contextual information provided, a high-level summary cannot be generated from the document alone.
La tuberculosis genitourinaria puede afectar los riñones, ureteres, vejiga, epidídimos, próstata y testículos. Se caracteriza por la formación de granulomas que conducen a necrosis e inflamación crónica. El tratamiento consiste en esquemas multidrogas de isoniazida, rifampicina, pirazinamida y etambutol durante varios meses para lograr la curación. La cirugía se utiliza para corregir daños orgánicos o desviar la vía urinaria cuando es necesario. Un diagnóstico
La criptorquidia es la ausencia de uno o ambos testículos en el escroto. Puede deberse a defectos en las hormonas o en la anatomía que impiden el descenso testicular durante el desarrollo fetal o infantil. La evaluación incluye el examen físico y pruebas para confirmar la presencia de las gónadas. El tratamiento quirúrgico antes de los 18 meses mejora la fertilidad y reduce el riesgo de cáncer testicular, aunque algunos casos pueden resolverse espontáneamente.
A UX professional has the power to heavily influence the success or failure of an entire business – product, service or otherwise. What we forget is that UX professionals are in fact human. We have the same or similar physical, emotional and experiential habits, outlooks and desires as the users we’re designing for. Humans design for humans. Therefore, it’s important to focus on the human, emotional aspect of our UX teams.
Successful design is built not just on our expertise, but our enjoyment in the craft of building itself.
By assessing and analyzing the UX designer as an individual versus the UX designer as a part of a team, this talk will explore and suggest uncommon but potentially vital themes in building and retaining creative inspiration inside a UX team.
La criptorquidia es la malformación urogenital más frecuente en niños, con una incidencia del 30% en prematuros y 3.4% en nacidos a término. Si el testículo no ha descendido a los 4 meses, ya no lo hará. El tratamiento es la orquidopexia, preferiblemente laparoscópica, para evitar complicaciones como atrofia testicular, tumores malignos e infertilidad.
2. Revenge of the Nerd
http://beautyisinside.com/2011/08/revenge-of-the-nerd/
I often write about how women can reclaim our power against a culture that tells us that our
bodies are our most valuable attributes. My passion about this issue was partly due to years of being
bullied about my looks (among other things) as I grew up. I was one of the unpopular kids from
elementary through high school, and so being bullied was part of life. I had no idea why the other
kids didn’t like me, and I tried hard to figure it out. I would sit by myself outside of the library at
lunchtime in my rainbow-striped top, my tan corduroy knickers that buttoned right below the knee,
my burgundy knee socks, and my freshly-white-shoe-polished Payless tennis shoes, wondering why
no one liked me. You’d better call Nancy Drew, because we have a mystery! My grandma told me
the girls were just jealous because I was so much prettier than they were. I wish I were able to
believe her, but grandmas have to say things like that.
I used to talk my mom into calling in sick for me all the time during junior high. I kept getting
stomach aches right before the time we were supposed to leave for school. Concerned about my
illness, my parents took me to a doctor who decided that I suffered from lactose-intolerance from the
milk in my morning Cheerios. So my parents switched me to soy. No surprise – the stomach aches
continued, because I wasn’t allergic to milk. I was allergic to the little shits who teased me. I was
allergic to the dirty looks, the shunning, and the insults from the mean girls. I was allergic to being
called ugly, smelly, and Casper because I was so pale. I was allergic to the shaming sting of cootie
spray if I accidentally got too close to someone. I was allergic to being left out, to being picked last
for teams, to being treated as if I were sub-human. I was allergic to no one standing up for me and to
not having the tools to do it myself. Unfortunately, soy milk couldn’t fix any of that.
Fast forward to my recent high school reunion. I wanted to see old friends, but I was dreading
seeing the bullies who made my life hell. I was frustrated that they still had a hold on me, even as an
adult. I had given them too much power for too long … but now it was time to take it back.
As the night progressed, I finally got up the nerve to stand up for myself. I just knew I’d regret it if
I didn’t. So with the help of a few glasses of liquid courage, I confronted two of the mean girls and
two of the mean guys. I didn’t plan out exactly what I would say; I just ended up being real. I pulled
each of them aside and nicely asked if I could speak to them for a moment. And one by one, I told
them that they were pretty mean to me back in school, and I just wanted to know why. Was it
something about me? I had spent years believing that it was me — that I was bullied because I
wasn’t pretty enough, or thin enough, or simply just not enough.
And an amazing thing happened. Three out of the four bullies immediately apologized. The two
guys acknowledged that they were jerks, and they both admitted that they took out their insecurities
and family issues on other kids. That it had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t prepared for them to be
so introspective. One girl claimed that she didn’t remember being bitchy to me, but she still
apologized several times, hugged me, and seemed to feel guilty. The last girl just coldly stated that I
was asking about something that happened many years ago, insisted that she didn’t remember
anything, and then reminded me again that it was many years ago.
But her response really didn’t matter. None of their responses did. I confronted my bullies
because I needed to stand up for myself, regardless of their reactions. And this time, I was detached
enough to realize that their apologies or their denials had everything to do with them — and nothing
to do with me. When someone treats us poorly, often our first instinct is to wonder what it was about
us that deserved the crappy treatment. Due to our own insecurities, we absorb their insults without
considering that they actually reflect the insecurities of the other person. The worst part is when we
take over the bullying ourselves.
Our early years can profoundly affect us long after we graduate. We spend less than 20 years in
childhood, and another 20+ trying to undo the damage. If there’s a bright side for me, it’s made me
even more compassionate toward any group that’s oppressed, because I know how much it hurts to
be bullied and how much it sucks when no one defends you.
But the bullies aren’t just in high school. The grown-up bullies have just graduated on to being
3. mean in other ways — to being critical and abusive partners and parents, to opposing the
“homosexual lifestyle” and marriage equality, to treating other races as second-class citizens, to
being intolerant and judgmental of others’ religions or lack thereof, to supporting legislation that
prevents women from having control over our own bodies, to treating women as dehumanized
sexual objects. The media are a grown woman’s tormenters. They’re the mean girls and boys who
tell us we’re ugly and fat, and that no one will like us unless we adhere to superficial beauty
standards. I use my writing as a way of standing up to them.
We may have graduated from the playground, but we’re not immune to feeling bullied. The little
kids inside us still want to be popular and accepted, and we don’t want to be rejected. However, as
grown-ups, we have more strength and resources than we had as children. We’re not the same
powerless little kids. We no longer have to cry into our pillows at night. We’re old enough to fight
against the bullies — and to decide not to be bullies ourselves. We matter. We’ve always mattered,
even if others were too blind or immature or insecure or heartless to recognize it. This was true
when we were children, and it remains true as adults.
There will always be those who try to keep others down, but it’s up to us to decide if we want to
stand up to them or let them continue to victimize us. It’s up to us to take our power back. And it’s up
to us to have the courage and compassion to stand up for others who have less power than we do.
And let me tell you — it feels damn good to finally stand up.