Growing up, I was never the cool kid. In all reality, I was the kid that got talked down and bullied verbally. My hair was never parted right, I had too many freckles, I was too boney, I was too skinny or I was not pretty enough. This was not only done by my classmates, but also by my dance teacher. I felt this way from first grade to eighth grade. What those people did to my self-esteem and to my mind were indescribable. Those people did not care how I felt, but I can tell you that because of them, I now know my self worth—thanks to a young woman named Katie. What amazes me is how long I dealt with those people. What amazes me is that I did not realize my self worth sooner.

Growing up I was always into sports. My best friend from preschool was into dance and it seemed like something I would like, so I decided to join. I ended up dancing for almost 10 years. If you’ve ever seen "Dance Moms," then Miss Abbey is almost a replica of my old dance teacher. She was very in-your-face and she yelled. She had favorites and if you were not a favorite then you got yelled at. I was not a favorite. Honestly, I was just money in her pocket. I had strived to do better and be someone she could be proud of, but I could never be and finally realized that in ninth grade when I quit. The other girls my age were also in my class. I knew they made fun of me but at that age I did not know what it would do to me.

I was around 12 or 13 and every year we do a dance called Big Little. It’s where the older kids (16 and up) dance with the little kids (13 and under). I got paired with a beautiful dancer named Katie. I could tell in the beginning she was not happy that we were paired together but it was what it was. About a week before recital a classmate and fellow dancer bullied me to the point that it made me cry and want to quit dance. I was done at that point. In my mind I had accepted defeat to the bullies and just wanted to feel okay again. My mom and I talked and I would finish out the last week and then quit dancing. I did not tell anyone other than my mom and the dance teacher’s mom what had happened to me that night. The next day at dance practice, multiple girls had come up to me to tell me they were sorry and try to make me feel better. My big had come and gave me a hug. She told me that it was not right for the girl to say what she did. She told me that she was so proud to be my partner and that I was a beautiful little girl and a beautiful dancer. She had bought me a little gift. When we were dancing to Big Little she would always smile at me, this in turned made me smile. What Katie did for me is something I cannot thank her enough for. She gave me the confidence I needed.

I ended up going back to dance for another year or two and realized that I did not want to be associated with a dance teacher that made her non-favorites feel small and dancers that made others feel bad. After I left that dance school, a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I focused on cheerleading, something I was better at. I ended up skipping my junior year of high school and went to college early. I ended up at the only college I applied to with scholarships I did not even apply for. Some of the girls that bullied me follow me on social media and I am happy to say that I am so much better than what I used to be and I know they see that. I am in a wonderful relationship. I have a beautiful home with two dogs. I am on track for law school. I am a year ahead of everyone I went to school with. I have an internship with a D.A. I went and worked at Walt Disney World and am still on track with school. I have done so many amazing things that those kids have not.

If it was not for those girls or for my dance teacher then I would not be the person I am today. If it were not for Katie I would not have the confidence I do today. So thank you to those girls who said I was a terrible dancer, too skinny, too pale, or not pretty enough. Thank you to my former dance teacher who screamed in my face repeatedly. I am a strong woman and I’d like to say that it is not because of you, but it is. However I won in the end, not you.