Date: April 23, 2025
Author: Sarah Montgomery
Why is middle school so brutal? I don’t get it. I’m a quiet person, the type who doesn’t try to draw attention to myself. I’ve never been the kind of person to start drama or make waves. But somehow, at this school, it feels like that’s exactly what I’ve done—just by being myself.
My school is pretty small, so everyone knows everyone. It’s like there’s no place to hide from the gossip. Today, I overheard two girls talking in the hallway while I was walking to my next class. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but they were speaking loudly enough for me to hear everything. One of them said, “Yeah, I heard the new kid is, like, so ugly.” I froze. They were talking about me.
I tried to shake it off, but it stung. I don’t know why they feel the need to be so cruel. I don’t do anything to them. I don’t even know them, and yet, they already have this opinion of me.
I’ve heard other things too—whispers in class, snickers when I cough. It happened a few weeks ago during choir. It’s that time of year where everyone’s getting sick, and I couldn’t stop coughing. It wasn’t my fault, but I heard two girls behind me, R and S, whispering to each other. I could feel their eyes on me. They were laughing, making fun of me, and I couldn’t even say anything back.
It’s hard to understand why people act this way. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t do anything to them. Yet, every day, it feels like they’re just waiting for me to mess up or for something to be wrong with me so they can make me their target. I just want to get through the day without feeling like I’m constantly being judged.
Sometimes, I wish I could be the kind of person who doesn’t care about what others think, but it’s hard when it feels like everyone is always looking for something to criticize. Why does it feel like being quiet and keeping to myself makes me an easy target?
I know it’s just middle school, and maybe I’ll look back on this one day and laugh, but right now, it just hurts. I don’t know why they hate me for no reason. I just want to be left alone, but somehow, that makes me stand out even more.
