The Middle School Man Stealer “Tougher than nails and sweeter than Yoo Hoo”, this is the way my father has described me since I was a little girl. Unlike most girls, I did not have a mother to get me all dolled up and pretty. No one taught me how to “be a lady”, Instead, I was taught to be a strong and intellectual person. As the only girl in our family, being fragile was not an option, and for that I am thankful. Prior to beginning school, I followed my older brother , JB, and his friends like a shadow. I talked like them, dressed like them and played like them. Mudpies and dog piles were my Little Bake oven and dress-up. Into elementary school, I could only make friends with boys. Thanks to JB, it was all I knew. I first met my best…show more content… Suddenly, I was no longer one of the guys to any of them except Landry. I would try to spend time with other boys, and they always seemed to get the wrong impression. Next thing I knew, I was the biggest flirt in the school. Which of course in middle schooler, this translated to the oh-so-sophisticated titles of “Man Stealer”, “Tease” and “Ho”. Going into highschool, I still carried these titles and heavy judgment as I walked down the halls. Every Time I would try to introduce myself to upper classmen, they would hit me with an “Oh you’re JB’s sister! I’ve heard about you” or “Wow you are pretty!”, as if they knew something I didn’t. I felt like a joke to the girls and prey to the guys. Although when this was new, it was rather painful, I was ashamed to be me and embarrassed by my boyish behavior, three years into high school I am proud of who I am. I’m proud of myself for being tough enough to handle ridicule and harassment. I am proud of myself for being sweet enough to maintain civil and kind throughout the whole situation. These characteristics that I developed from my unique childhood are ones I wouldn't trade for the world, and I know that because of them I am strong enough to take on
