I got saved as a young person at the ripe age of 10 years old. No one led me in the sinners prayer, I just heard it from Christians and church so much that I knew what to pray. I prayed the prayer in my heart and mind that afternoon at my Christian Aunt's house because I was deeply hungry for God’s love. After I said the prayer I was changed and I ...felt real peace within for the first time in my life!
As I became a adolescent being the new girl at school wasn’t as easy as when I was little. You see, my family moved around North Bay a lot, and I have probably been to almost every school in North Bay at some point in time. When I was in elementary school you were that weird new kid and everyone wanted to play with you at recess... you were the “it girl” for that day or even week!
Then came grade 7 and 8. I was the new girl in grade 8 and in the middle of the year this time!! I met a large group of “popular” girls at this junior high that consisted of every girl except for one besides me that was on the outside, her name was Emily (can’t remember her real name).
Instantly I bonded with Emily because she was nice and I was actually assigned seating next to her. Little did I know that the seat was empty next to her for a reason!
My first day at this junior high I was swarmed and greeted by a huddle of pretty and fashionable girls. They even invited me to sit with them at lunch for a week trial. I thought it was nice of them at first.
The leader and other girls of the group knew I didn’t fit in right away. I guess I was a lot different. I was strong willed and wasn’t a follower at all.
For one thing they must have noticed in the bathroom when it was make- up time. As they coated on their foundation and liquid eyeliner, I wore no make up. So, I spent that time in front of the mirror playing with my eyelids and eyebrows as they got dolled up for what seemed like hours.
Also, the way I dressed stood out too. They wore what was in at the time, which was bell- bottoms and I wore straight legged cords. Not only were they cords, I only had two different colours which didn’t fly either because they had a “no wearing any article of clothing back to back” rule.
So, after that first week you can guess they ditched me and wouldn’t let me sit at their lunch table anymore. I wish I could chalk it up and say that it didn’t affect me and that I became good friends with Emily, but that wouldn’t be true.
It really bugged me at first. I spent lunch and recess in the bathroom stall sometimes, crying. Then something happened to make things harder on me. The most popular guy in school asked me out over the weekend. You see this was the guy that the leader of the girls has a crush on. Even though I turned him down, she was upset and that is when the pranks started.
From that point on the girls made my life miserable. But I did befriend Emily and she was so nice. Apparently, Emily used to be part of the popular group but got shunned because she dated the same guy that asked me out at some point that same year.
I don't know why they didn't like me, but it really doesn't matter to me anymore. I grew up and don't internalize rejection anymore. Maybe I was just being persecuted for being different. By the way, after I turned that guy down, he hated me too and all his friends made my life even harder.
I wanted to be home schooled after grade 9 because in high school the bullying just got worse. Thankfully my Mom agreed to Home-school me, and in that time I spent a lot of time with God everyday and He showed me this: that people will always hurt us and let us down. God won't. He is perfect and His love is perfect. He showed me in those times with Him that He loved me and accepted me just as I was. That He chose the outcasts, the oppressed and the lonely in the world and made them His own!! I don't know where I would be without Jesus.
I wish I could say it all got better when I was Home-schooled and went to youth group. It didn't. My sisters and I endured a lot. We would get unwanted attention from guys and this would make the girls in the group jealous. The girls would ignore us, gossip about us, and ultimately try to make it so bad for us that they hoped we wouldn't come back. But we had each other and Jesus had our back!
Be kind to everybody. If someone is all alone sit with them and talk to them. If you see bullying happen, don’t enable it by saying nothing, that is just as bad as being the bully. Stop it dead in it’s tracks. Don’t be a bystander. Do unto others as you would have done unto you- Matt 7: 12. You can make a difference to someone else and affect their lives for Christ!
By: Kristin McLeod
In loving memory of Amanda Todd xo
As I became a adolescent being the new girl at school wasn’t as easy as when I was little. You see, my family moved around North Bay a lot, and I have probably been to almost every school in North Bay at some point in time. When I was in elementary school you were that weird new kid and everyone wanted to play with you at recess... you were the “it girl” for that day or even week!
Then came grade 7 and 8. I was the new girl in grade 8 and in the middle of the year this time!! I met a large group of “popular” girls at this junior high that consisted of every girl except for one besides me that was on the outside, her name was Emily (can’t remember her real name).
Instantly I bonded with Emily because she was nice and I was actually assigned seating next to her. Little did I know that the seat was empty next to her for a reason!
My first day at this junior high I was swarmed and greeted by a huddle of pretty and fashionable girls. They even invited me to sit with them at lunch for a week trial. I thought it was nice of them at first.
The leader and other girls of the group knew I didn’t fit in right away. I guess I was a lot different. I was strong willed and wasn’t a follower at all.
For one thing they must have noticed in the bathroom when it was make- up time. As they coated on their foundation and liquid eyeliner, I wore no make up. So, I spent that time in front of the mirror playing with my eyelids and eyebrows as they got dolled up for what seemed like hours.
Also, the way I dressed stood out too. They wore what was in at the time, which was bell- bottoms and I wore straight legged cords. Not only were they cords, I only had two different colours which didn’t fly either because they had a “no wearing any article of clothing back to back” rule.
So, after that first week you can guess they ditched me and wouldn’t let me sit at their lunch table anymore. I wish I could chalk it up and say that it didn’t affect me and that I became good friends with Emily, but that wouldn’t be true.
It really bugged me at first. I spent lunch and recess in the bathroom stall sometimes, crying. Then something happened to make things harder on me. The most popular guy in school asked me out over the weekend. You see this was the guy that the leader of the girls has a crush on. Even though I turned him down, she was upset and that is when the pranks started.
From that point on the girls made my life miserable. But I did befriend Emily and she was so nice. Apparently, Emily used to be part of the popular group but got shunned because she dated the same guy that asked me out at some point that same year.
I don't know why they didn't like me, but it really doesn't matter to me anymore. I grew up and don't internalize rejection anymore. Maybe I was just being persecuted for being different. By the way, after I turned that guy down, he hated me too and all his friends made my life even harder.
I wanted to be home schooled after grade 9 because in high school the bullying just got worse. Thankfully my Mom agreed to Home-school me, and in that time I spent a lot of time with God everyday and He showed me this: that people will always hurt us and let us down. God won't. He is perfect and His love is perfect. He showed me in those times with Him that He loved me and accepted me just as I was. That He chose the outcasts, the oppressed and the lonely in the world and made them His own!! I don't know where I would be without Jesus.
I wish I could say it all got better when I was Home-schooled and went to youth group. It didn't. My sisters and I endured a lot. We would get unwanted attention from guys and this would make the girls in the group jealous. The girls would ignore us, gossip about us, and ultimately try to make it so bad for us that they hoped we wouldn't come back. But we had each other and Jesus had our back!
Be kind to everybody. If someone is all alone sit with them and talk to them. If you see bullying happen, don’t enable it by saying nothing, that is just as bad as being the bully. Stop it dead in it’s tracks. Don’t be a bystander. Do unto others as you would have done unto you- Matt 7: 12. You can make a difference to someone else and affect their lives for Christ!
By: Kristin McLeod
In loving memory of Amanda Todd xo
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