I spent ten years rebuilding the confidence high school had taken from me. Back then, I weighed more than 300 pounds, struggled with severe acne, and spent every school day trying not to be noticed. Betty, our beautiful and popular prom queen, knew exactly how to make me feel small. She mocked my body, excluded me in front of everyone, and once placed her bag on an empty chair before saying they were saving it for someone who only needed one seat. Everyone laughed, and I laughed too because crying in front of them would have felt worse. After graduation, I changed my habits, learned to cook differently, began exercising, and eventually lost 150 pounds. But the greatest transformation was learning to speak up, say no, and stop viewing myself through the eyes of the people who had hurt me. When my ten-year reunion invitation arrived, I nearly threw it away, but my boyfriend, Andrew, reminded me that I did not have to attend for anyone except myself. So I bought a blue dress, walked into the reunion despite my fear, and promised myself that 17-year-old Betty would no longer decide where 28-year-old me was allowed to stand.
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