Sticks and stones...

From as far back as I can remember I have struggled with acceptance.  Acceptance of my whole self- inside and out.  I have struggled with the scars that have been instilled in my mind from “the bullies who felt like moral champions.” I can recall specific instances where I was bullied on the bus ride home from school by a couple young and immature male classmates of mine.  I was probably only in the second or third grade at the time, but it was at that young age where I was told I was “fat,” “chubby,” “chunky,” you name it.  It was at that young age where bullying truly impacted the perception that I have forever had on my body.  I was a bit more “rounder” than some of my close friends and am humorously reminded of my “pretty plus” days, when I was forced to wear clothes in the “big girls section.”  Now, don’t get me wrong...I certainly was not obese by any means...and looking back, I was actually quite “normal.”  I was a little bit heavy set and “matured” a bit sooner than many of my peers.  I was what you would call “a bit different from the rest.”  The bullying, the insults, the jokes all impacted me in many ways.  I can recall a time when I walked off of the school bus and hurried home as quickly as I could so that I could free myself of the tears that hid behind my blue eyes.  I shut the door and cried.  Cried because I was hurt.  Cried because I felt judged.  Cried because I felt different.  Cried because I just wanted to be like the rest.  How terribly mean children can be.  How terribly sad that we live in a world where we “can’t all just get along.”  

While working at Butler Hospital, I have been helped many, many people who struggle with depression, thoughts and attempts of suicide and self injurious behaviors, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and despair.  The list can go on. I have been a shoulder for them to cry on and I have been an advocate for improved mental health.  I remember times when I felt sad and lonely all because I was judged by the size of my clothing.  The feelings of despair that I had is something I would never want another to experience.  To feel unaccepted is an awful way to feel.  So, how can I help others feel loved, worthy and accepted?  By doing just what the authors of Safe Spaces insist we should all do.  Accept, educate, include, change our ways, challenge assumptions and really….don’t assume.  Don’t make an ass out of you and me.  

A lot of what I spoke to in my final paper reflected the term perception.  I continue to feel that word is one of strength and power.  How we perceive others and how we perceive ourselves can take such a toll on the world and how we live within the world.  We need to see others perception.  We need to understand others points of view and respect one another.  We need to see that we are all different and we need to love and embrace one another for our differences.  Not judge.  We can not be the red pen that erases one’s definition of self.  

I believe this article argues that “challenging assumptions is difficult work, however we need tools to do it well, to do it at all.”  We need to integrate and interpret the differences within the world in our classrooms so that all children can feel safe and accepted.  We need to strive to help others find their voice and challenge them to raise it.  

What a wonderful resource GLESN truly is.  How wonderful to have this powerful tool for others to seek out in times of need.  How wonderful that our educators are being handed this opportunity for growth and empowerment within our school systems.  I found several different articles that I found to be quite intriguing.  One that particularly stood out to me however, included some very alarming statistics around suicide.  Something that boggles my mind in so many ways.  There is always help. There is always opportunity for wellness.  We just need to advocate for it and talk about it.