Alas they were but 2 examples out of many. Elementary school kept me almost unbearably frustrated, angry, and afraid. I was eager to learn but I was too easily distracted from material that was too easy and boring; plus, I was continually humiliated and bullied by students and teachers alike.

There were 2 brothers who used to chase me home everyday because I was terrified to let them catch me. Oddly, they almost never did but once they split up to catch me and I cornered one and stood up to him. He backed down and they didn't chase me anymore. You'd think that would have taught me to stand up for myself, but inexplicably, I lost that fire immediately after and became a doormat again.

I can't believe I'm posting this. It sounds so much like an appeal for pity. Maybe it is, but I can no longer suppress the need to express this.