Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

12. Don't Let a Bully Bring You Down
       My Gymnastics-Bully Nightmare

This lesson goes beyond McKinley High. Whether it's Will and Sue Sylvester, Santana and everyone, Puck and the losers, or Quinn and Rachel, I've learned this lesson the hard way. Sure, I've never been thrown into a dumpster like Kurt, but my bad experience has scarred me for life.

I was nine years old. I didn't even know what bullies were. I had been doing gymnastics for two years, and I loved it. I had my mom drive me to practice early and I'd stay late. I loved shopping for leotards and wearing bright-colored tights. I would tumble around the studio with my new friends. Then, it happened.

Amanda was taller and bigger than all the others girls in our class. Her hair was platinum blonde and spiky. She was a bad dancer. She messed up the routines and made fun of the other girls, particularly me. She would make fun of me when my dance moves were off, and I went home crying the first day she joined.

"I'm calling your teacher, that's it," mom said on the drive home.
"No. Don't. That'll make it worse," I said. I promised to stand up for myself the next day.

Except Amanda made fun of me more than before. When we were standing in line to do hand-stands, she cut in front of me.
"I was here first," I said. I was excited to stand up for myself.
"So? Nobody cares," she said.
And I cried. I quit gymnastics after that day, despite my parents' best attempts at convincing me to stay. I regret that decision more than anything. I never got back into it after that, and I wonder what would have happened if Amanda had never come into my life.