The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXX

“I’ve learned
to ignore the
negativity because
I’ve learned to be
myself in a world
that is constantly
trying to make me
something else.”
My mom did a decent enough job, but it helps to have curly hair. While we
were sweeping up my “lovely locks” as she always called them, she turned
to me and said, “If you don’t say something to the bullies or your teachers,
nothing’s going to change.”
When I returned to school I got lots of compliments. “You look so different!
I love your hair!” There were even a few, “I miss those curls!” Seemed like
everyone loved the “new do.” Everyone except me. The rest of the year flew by
without incident, but my hair grows pretty quickly so I had to make a choice:
keep cutting it really short or let it grow. I chose the latter. Like Samson, Thor,
and the Samurai, long hair is a part of me.
On the first day of second grade, I marched right up to the kids who bullied
me and told them, “I’m going to grow my hair long again. I love my hair and I
love my name and I don’t want to hear anything about it. If you have anything
mean to say, keep it to yourself or don’t ever talk to me again!” I walked away
feeling brave and relieved that I had the courage to speak up for myself. I still
get teased about my hair from time to time, but I’m older and wiser than I was
before. I’ve learned to ignore the negativity because I’ve learned to be myself
in a world that is constantly trying to make me something else.
Volume XXX
9