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Part 8: Underage Dating

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 Needless to say, I was really worried about going back to school for grade ten. Even though most of my bullies had graduated, a lot of people had heard what happened and I wasn't sure I could face them. I wanted them to know that I was different now. I wanted them to know that I was someone that they could be friends with.  On November 1st, 2016, there was word of a lockdown at a high school in Abbotsford. Abbotsford is small enough that the social circles run small. The circles become even smaller when you narrow it down to high school and even smaller when you narrow it down to grade nine and ten. When I got home from school that day, I hear that two girls had been stabbed in their high school. One of the girls lost their life and the other had life-threatening injuries. I was obviously very sad to hear this, but I had no connection to either girl. But things like that weren't supposed to happen in Abbotsford.  I wasn't prepared for what school would be like for the re...
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Part 7: What's the Point of the Women's Pull?

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TW if you're sensitive like me :)  The summer after grade nine, I am beyond ready to not be in school anymore. I couldn't wait to get away from all of those horrible people and I couldn't wait to not have to wake up early. Our church had a mandatory, early-morning scripture study class that started at 6:25 every school morning. It is a unique form of torture but I had friends there.  There was also a boy there that I had become quite fond of and we would text sometimes. But I didn't really know what his deal was because he would text me all this deep stuff but then totally ignore me in person. I didn't know at the time that that's what immature boys do, I was just confused and hurt by it.  Anyways, another unique form of torture that the LDS church inflicted upon us, is a pioneer trek in the hot depth of August. It involves walking a lot with a group of people (your fake Ma, Pa and siblings), sleeping under a tarp that's open on both ends, wearing pioneer cl...
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Part 6: I'm Fine, Everything's Fine.

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TW for people who are sensitive like me :)  The production that my theatre teacher decided to put on was "The Wiz".  If you haven't heard of it, that's okay because it isn't very good. It is the story of the Wizard of Oz, traditionally performed by African American people. The original cast featured Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, the songs are jazzy and soulful and my teacher decided to put on an all-white production of this show. This probably wouldn't slide in 2026, I think it barely slid in 2016, but I didn't really get what the big deal was at the time. I got a good part and had fun doing it.  A tradition that YMT does with every production, is an initiation for the first-timers. I heard about this for the first time a few weeks before the tech week of the show. I asked what the initiation was and everyone was really weird and secretive about it. I would push for more and more information and they would say things like, "if you really want a hint, l...
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Part 5: Bye, Bonnie

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 High school seniors, getting lost, and having no friends in my classes. Those were my three biggest concerns going into grade nine. I pictured the senior students pushing me up into lockers, tripping me in the halls, yelling in my face, etc. Manda was a grade above me at Yale Secondary and she was able to kind of show me around if I needed it. But she had classes to get to as well.  I had joined the musical theatre program at Yale because I had gone to all of their productions since I was quite young and the school had a really good reputation for their theatre program. I wanted to be a part of something like that so badly. I knew a few people from Seussical that had also joined YMT (Yale Musical Theatre) so I wasn't completely alone, but I was very shy and insecure.  I was in my first drama class and Bonnie was in my class with me. It's the only class we had together, but at least it was a fun one. I didn't have any classes with anyone else from my middle school group o...
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Part 4: The Class Doormat

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 The year is 2015 and I am going into the eighth grade. Over the summer, my family went to Halifax to visit Grandma and Grandpa who were still on their mission. Though my memories from this trip are few, I am forever grateful for the family time we got to spend together.  We also go to Veranda Beach on Lake Osoyoos. We had been going there for six years at this point but it never disappoints. Our cottage is right on the lake, there's a 50's style diner behind the pool where you can order milkshakes to your pool chair, or even to your hand while you're in the hot tub! I had never felt more boujee in my life. On Wednesday's, they pull out a big projector screen to the grassy lawn and play a movie for everyone at the resort. We drag our lawn chairs, tubes, and even my uncle's inflatable party barge and we sit together and watch the Amazing Spider Man. My mom's sister Anita, her husband Mike and their four kids come to surprise us at Veranda Beach this year. Althoug...
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Part 3: Glinda With The Stomach Flu

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  The way it worked at my middle school was that your class and teacher stayed the same for grades six and seven and then in grade eight it was the same class but with different teachers. So I was unfortunately stuck with the same group of friends once I got to grade seven.  luckily, this year doesn't stand out for me which is probably a good thing.  One day, I was wasting time during P.E because I was not a kid that enjoyed gym class. I felt like it was really embarrassing for me and my friends were mean, so I hid in the bathroom. I came out of the bathroom and into the gym and nobody was there, they had all gone outside to walk the track; which is an activity that I actually enjoyed. So on my way across the stinky gym floor, I hear a sniffle come from the bleachers. I look back to see a classmate of mine who I had never really interacted with. For the sake of privacy, let's call her Bonnie. Bonnie was popular. She was a part of the cheerleading program at our school and...
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Part 2: Annie Jr., 98.3, Halifax and a Tough Time in Math

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  Okay, so did anyone actually have a good experience in middle school? I mean I hate to be a downer, but I think struggling in middle school is a universal experience. I had a really special bond with my homeroom teacher in grade 6. She was quirky, young, loved musical theatre and we really clicked. She was the director of my school's production of Annie. I remember auditioning for the show and singing "Call Me Maybe" and her jaw was dropped for most of it. I had probably never felt better about myself.  I got casted as July, one of the orphans at Annie's orphanage. It was not the lead, but I did get a pretty decent solo in "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" Everyone thought that I was cool, I thought I was cool too.  Shortly after that show, my dad was driving Manda and I to school one morning. We lived way on the other side of Abbotsford so it was a bit of a drive to get to school. I really enjoyed my time with dad every morning, especially ...
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