Growing Up

Growing up making friends was a difficult task and it still isn't that easy to this day. It didn't help as a child moved several times, which meant starting over every couple of years until ending up in the northwest in the summer before the start of seventh grade.

At each stop I was usually made one good friend and at one point during this time it was also easier for me to communicate with adults and not children of my age group. In one instance I had a better relationship with the principal of the school then any of my classmates.

Kids are cruel and whoever came up with the quote that stated "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is full of crap. In my opinion it's better to break a bone, win or lose a physical confrontation, etc....

Of course that reason is simple those scars will fade over time and so will the pain.

Words are a much different story those stick with you long after the person has said it. You start to think less of yourself, that maybe somehow they are right and stop participating in class so you aren't laughed at if you get the question wrong.

During that time had my name made fun of, sexuality questioned and even worse been told to "go kill yourself."

Teachers are blissfully ignorant about what happens and will only get involved when you respond. It's a sad truth about the school system and it's not surprising that teenage suicides in the United States continue to rise.

It's even worse now with social networking sites cause the bullying doesn't stop once class is out. Thankfully that wasn't available during the time I was in school.

For school work itself I did well in the early years with basic math and algebra, when it became more abstract concepts such as word problems or geometry I struggled mightily. My hand writing was hard to decipher and learning cursive was much worse and there was only one other person who could read it.

I've always had a strong vocabulary, enjoyed science and reading.

The only saving grace throughout my childhood were sports. I played baseball and with NLD that was difficult due to the hand-eye coordination issues though as the season progressed got better at making contact and actually won the most improved player award.

 Played soccer and basketball was truly the sport I excelled at.