(When I was in high school, being or acting “geeky” was still considered “uncool.” The first couple years were a nightmare. They enjoyed bullying me for being new and for my “nerdy” appearance. It wasn’t until my last year in the school that I earned respect from my classmates and had my own circle of close friends. After a two-week break, I return to school with a new, more modern haircut, which helps me feel a bit more confident in my own skin. As I walk down the stairs during our lunch break, I see a group of elementary-school kids waiting in in a line on the opposite side of the stairs. A teacher who is very popular with most students due to his friendly, casual teaching style, starts walking up and stops midway to greet me.)
Teacher: “Hello there, [My Name]! Good to see you back. There’s something different about you, though.”
Me: “Oh, I just went to the salon the other day and decided to get this new haircut.”
Teacher: “That explains it! It looks great!” *while the little kids are looking at us* “Yeah… Your old haircut made you look a little immature, you know? It hid your features! Now you definitely look like a senior that’s about to graduate!”
Me: *surprised he would mention my appearance* “Thanks?”
Teacher: “Like I always say… There’s no such thing as an ugly girl, just one that doesn’t take care of her appearance!”
Me: *shocked and embarrassed he said in front of impressionable kids* “Wait… Who thinks I was ugly, or that I don’t take care of myself?”
Teacher: *stares at me in surprise*
Me: *as the little kids look at us* “Ugliness comes from the inside, and I’ve never considered myself to be ugly. You don’t have to look a certain way to be considered healthy or be socially accepted. Don’t you think?”
Teacher: *as he starts walking up away from me and the kids* “Yeah, yeah, of course! I was just joking!”
My Friends: *who were in the corner waiting for me to walk down* “About time you stood up for yourself!”
Me: “How dare he? I just didn’t want the little kids to think that was an okay thing to say.”
(After that, that teacher avoided me like the plague.)