Lighting the Way

Thirty years ago, I was standing in front of our junior high gymnasium. I was the new girl in town and I didn’t have many friends. I had decided to run for Student Council and was about to make my speech to the entire school. When the principal introduced me, the mean girls began to boo and heckle. They made animal sounds and everyone laughed. I felt humiliated and held back the tears as the teachers quieted the crowd. That day, my inner light dimmed.