You see, I was raised to be a Christian, but early in my schooling, I seemed to be drawn to the bad crowd. I don't know what it was about those kids, but they were what I wanted to be. I wasn't a very nice kid, I was considered a bully, I bullied one of my now closest friends, good thing she forgave me. I used to do everything this group of friends did. Although I’ve known some of these friends since 3rd grade, our relationship was inconsistent until 7th grade

I had just moved up to this new school because of my parents' separation, and I wanted to be part of a group, so when someone invited me to sit at their table, I did. I used to do everything they did. So I bullied the quiet kids, the ones who wouldn't fight back. I always felt terrible after. I tried not to bully them, but then I got bullied. I also ignored teachers when they were talking to me. I had been told that's what cool kids do, and that's what I wanted to be because I had just moved up here, and I wanted to fit in. I had wanted to be someone, something. So I listened to everything this group of friends told me. I was always getting in trouble because these people would blame me for everything, even when it wasn't me.

I started to realize that these friends weren't really friends; they were just using me as a cover to get away with bad behavior. I started to maneuver myself away from the people in that group and centered myself around getting better grades and finding new friends who were good for me. I wanted to turn my life around, but that was very difficult for me. Everything seemed to be going wrong in my life, I didn't know what to do, until I found these new friends who supported what I did and wanted me to do better.

I began to understand how this old group of friends was bad for me, and these new friends were what I needed in my life. My new friend group has only a few people, while my old group had many, but I will no longer have more friends than I can count on one hand. My best friend has been the one who has helped me the most, and that friend is Juniper. She helped me get through very hard times and get out of toxic situations..

I was always a very closed-off person, and I still am, but it’s been a lot better since I met Juniper. She's been the one to get me out of my comfort zone and be myself.

© Isabella. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.