Hello to my younger self. (50ish talking to Jr. High self)

Hey you.  Hold on, don’t get in such a hurry.  Trust in your abilities.  Believe in yourself, take more chances.  Take some risks.  Lose some weight and learn about carbs.  Don't worry about the bullies, just stay clear as much as possible and don’t let them define who you are and who you can become.  If they beat you down every day, then stand back up every day and say, "see ya' tomorrow".  Focus on the things that will get you through.  Discover all aspects of the things around you.

 The teachers who are there in school are human too...Don't be quick to judge, but learn to move fast anyway… " Talk to the girls even the dorky ones, it doesn’t mean that you like them in a romantic sense, it just means that there are other people out there that  can be your friends and support group.  Be kind to everyone, everyone has bad days and needs to be brought up.  Don't judge to harshly...

Find a way to get more academic, but also stay close to the fun classes as well.  Art is an oasis, enjoy what it teaches.  No, Mrs. Swayze's Pacer car isn't as cool as you think it is.  Listen in her class, that is one of the few you like.  Get comic book friends sooner, this will help you survive. Don’t bring your best ones to school.

In the cafeteria, eat slowly, stay in as much as possible and stay out of the courtyard.  The courtyard is a target zone for your minority. Watch what you eat in the cafeteria, if others are getting sick from it, then stay away.  Believe the ones that say they are going to throw up and step back.  Teachers eat in the cafeteria as well, Watch out for their illnesses too. Mr. Hayes is not immune to food poisoning just because he's a farmer.

Don't ever bring money with you to school, if you do, keep it in your shoe.  If it is in your pocket it will be found by someone hitting against you.  If you leave it in your clothes during gym, the money will disappear out of the locked basket and you will also lose your pants.  This will make you furious and you will be embarrassed for having to wear the white boxer underwear looking gym shorts that the state regulated that you wear. 

In the gym itself, if you are a minority, make yourself as invisible as possible.  Group with others like yourself.  If you play a lot of sports disregard the next few comments as you were a category unto yourself.  The people you hang out with in gym help as much as they can, but can only do so much.  Inside games you are expected to be a goal or target for large spherical objects to be hurled at you at an amazing speed.  Yes, it hurts and injures.  Try to get duty in the office or library, it will help.  A doctor's note for dressing out will also help.  You will find though that you usually are forced to dress out at the first of the class by a coach who you never see on this side of his glass, walled office.  Outside gym class is also something to watch out for.  You do have more space to distance yourself from fights and run by hitting.  However, you will be required to play sports where you are given the ball and immediately tackled for the pleasure of others.  While down you will experience other pain as well, ie. biting, punching, kicking.  Stay calm...It only lasts two years.

Make sure you stay away from bleachers and stairs as much as possible.  There will be a wrestling show where the wrestlers propel themselves in the air and come down on their opponents head with their elbow.  This will make you dizzy and make it hard to focus.  You will get beat up, you will get in fights and you will think that you are dying and the world will end for you soon.  Keep the faith of tomorrow.  Things do get better. Trust your family, they will be stronger than you think and will help strengthen you and guide you in a better direction. 

Also, The little guy who stared at you in gym when you tried to talk to him... he is just gauging who you are.  The both of you will share an amazing journey there and at church and in life.  He's your best friend and the one thing worth taking out of that time.  He is a constant in your life.  You share a lot of humor, a lot of grief, and a lot of occasional disagreements, but he has always been there.  Treat him nice, learn from him.  He's a nerd, but hey, you're a geek so that's a good start.  He will do well in school with his smarts and you will ride on the outskirts of education with your charm and common sense.  He got the better end of the deal.  Enjoy his jokes, they help your comedic timing as well.  Please just hang in there and trust that God will lead you through it.

~curtain~