Let’s go back in time for a second.
Imagine it’s the first day of first grade at your new school. Anxiously scanning the room, you look for a place to sit. You walk past some tables. No eye contact. When finally, a girl with a sweet grin asks you if you want to sit down.
Victory!
You sit down and observe the social dynamics. Things are going well. The girls are mostly talking to each other, but they occasionally ask you a question about your old school. All is well until, from behind your back, you hear some snickering. Some whispering.
You just know it’s about you.
Incoherent, general babble ensues until you make out one singular phrase.
“She’s so weird.”
Wait, what?
Weird?
Who said that? They don’t even know me. I’m new here!
And just like that, you’ve been labeled “the weird, new kid.”
Okay, you can come back to real life now.
Now I know that wasn’t the most fun of exercises, but it illustrates something profound and timeless.
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