by Lori Deschene
It felt meaningful to me because I’d been there.
Junior high was difficult for me. At that point in time, I didn’t like myself and I was desperate to be accepted. In elementary school I was chubby; I wore a back brace for scoliosis; and I had braces and headgear for my crooked teeth and overbite.
Perhaps I grew crooked because there wasn’t a ton of sunlight in my pretty older sister’s shadow. Less poignant but likely more accurate, I was a kid with insecurities, like so many other kids across the world.
Whatever the case may be, I struggled, and was teased a lot, and hurt a lot, for a lot longer than necessary.
When Six78th Magazine–a new ‘tween publication with national distribution–advertised for writers in 2006, I felt I’d found my calling. (more…)
We all know at least one hardcore people pleaser. You know the signs: She sleeps in the rain and gets the flu so her friend’s dog can fit in the tent. She’s 100% republican but lied about her vote because the nation had Obama fever. If a friend calls her stupid, she whips up a batch of cookies, and makes a card that reads, “I’m sorry for disappointing you.” And despite all her over-the-top efforts to be liked by everyone, many people disrespect her. Maybe that’s you, maybe it’s not–but odds are, you can relate at least a little to the desire to be well-liked. Who doesn’t want to feel accepted, respected, and appreciated?
