[CatStarESP4]

I was picked on a lot when I was a kid. When we moved back to NY state in the mid 80s, it was even worse. No girl in my class wanted to be my friend. At times, they were friendly with me, but the next moment they treated me like isht. They said that I was fat and ugly and those were the reasons that they didn't want to be friends with me. It was a blow to my self-worth and self-esteem. I didn't look forward to going to school and counted the days until the weekend, break and the end of the school year. At one point, I begged to be home tutored or homeschool, but I was told that it wasn't possible. One boy even tried to strangle me with my scarf.

I went to a different high school (it was my choice), where things got a lot better for me. However, I took drivers ed at my home high school and saw some of same kids who tormented me during the lecture component. I kept my emotional distance from them. There was one girl was in my practice component, but she forgot all about the torment that I was put through and encouraged my progress.

I still bear the emotional scars of that year even after nearly 20 years. I don't talk much about it; let alone be reminded of it. I even blocked out the name of the town that the torment took place out of mind and vowed never to return there again once I left for college. I try to focus on my present and future.