Shortly before I started Kindergarten, I visited my sister’s school. I would tag along and meet kids her age. That’s when the teasing about my ears first started. I was called “Dumbo” and “satellite dishes.” I was also told that someday I would fly using my ears.

When I finally started Kindergarten, I met a girl named Kelly*. No one ever played with or talked to her, so I tried to be her friend, even though I was teased because of it. Since we were both teased, we drifted apart as friends. As we grew, she followed a different path than mine. I went to church, and I think that helped me a lot. Kelly started to tease other people and she slowly turned into a bully. I did not, even though I was still being teased. Sometimes I would talk back to my teasers, but I didn’t like the feeling inside later.

Someone called me “Boots” in eighth grade because I wore men’s work boots to school. They were the only shoes I had at the time. As I was teased, I kept calm and didn’t say anything. I was taught right and wrong,

I had no friends from Kindergarten through eighth grade. I am not joking. I was just the “weird” kid in their eyes.

When I left public school and began attending Indiana Academy, I wasn’t around the people who were teasing me. I still get teased once in a while, but who doesn’t?

I have been involved in my church. I think that saved me. God saved me. Philippians 4:13 is a big help. It is a reminder that God can help us through anything, and if we hold on, there will be a reward for us. I have learned there are worse things than teasing. Words hurt, but God’s words heal for eternity.

Now, when I see people getting teased, I know what they are going through. I pray for them, whether I know them or not. Kids who are teased could do many things and may find one way works better than another for them. Here are some suggestions: count to ten; avoid the person; repeat encouraging words; walk away; and, talk to someone after it happens.

Usually people who tease others want attention, love, or are trying to feel better about themselves. The way they make that happen is to make others around them feel really low in self-esteem.

There is hope. Teasing will not last forever, even though it feels like it will. Your trust in Jesus will grow stronger because you learn to trust Him to get you through anything. God saved me. He has shown me the way—the right path—to follow Him. I learned that you have to have God or you are lost in a world of sin. He will pick you up when you fall.

I still pray for Kelly all the time. I might not ever see her again, but I hope God shows her life.

Caitlyn Chism is a junior at Indiana Academy.

*Not her real name.