Middle School

Middle school presented it's own set of challenges and successes that would define me later in life. Firstly, I was still a child who cared deeply about how others viewed me, and above all, how teachers viewed me. I behaved better then most other kids during this time, but not because I was just intrinsically quiet and polite, but because I was always trying to gain the approval of the teachers around me. Eventually, I would be awarded the student of the year award during my 8th grade year and would even go on to win the presidency going into Freshmen year of high school.

But seeking the approval of my teachers left me without the widescale approval of my peers. I felt it. Hell, I suffered for it. But as will be covered during my high school years, my change into someone seeking the approval of my peers over someone seeking approval from my teachers is in some ways just as harmful. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was the only person who could determine my worth.