This topic is very near and dear to my heart. It’s something everyone should read, hopefully get a lesson out of, and become a better person. I’m not saying I’m anywhere near perfect, but I’d like to share a story that may change some people’s perspective on how they treat people.
There’s this person in my life, who I extremely care about, a person who I would go to the ends of the universe to make happy, a person I live for and work hard for everyday. This special person has a special condition called epilepsy, which hinders her cognitive skills. This hindrance causes communication problems, learning issues, and effects her social interactions.
Once upon a time, I was 12, 13, 14 years old, and I can proudly say I was never a bully. I never thought I was better or cooler than anyone, I never made fun of anyone (unless it was picking on my best friends of course). I was the kid that defended the poor kid getting bullied, I was the kid that would make them my friend no matter what others thought. This may have been because I was bullied and picked on when I was a little kid, but it shouldn’t matter what your past was, being nice is always the right thing to do. The people that I made sure to be extra nice to and go out of my way for (without being too obvious!) were the kids who had special needs, whether they were physical or educational disabilities. Why? Because the best way for them to improve and thrive in school is by feeling as though they fit in no matter what. This pushes them to do well in school and encourages them to keep trying. It shows them that they have a support system and that they can tackle any challenge, because for them everything is harder than it is for me.
Back to my special person. My special person is picked on; she doesn’t have very many true friends. She is unbelievably kind to everyone no matter how they treat her, and she makes sure everyone feels special. But I see those same people and the way they interact with her. They are mean, ruthless little teens. They treat her as if she’s nothing (a quote from my special person). Why? Because she can’t always properly tell stories, because she’s not super into talking about the subjects they are, because she has hair that’s shorter on one side than the other BECAUSE HER HEAD WAS SHAVED FOR BRAIN SURGERY. Yeah that’s right, this young 13 year old special person has already gone under an extremely invasive procedure at such a tender age. Which brings me to a topic that completely breaks my heart. Around the same time my special person went under the knife another young girl did that was part of a group of people she considers her “friends”. This girl got support on facebook, twitter, instagram, everywhere, wishing her good luck and a speedy recovery. And my special person, well she had one supporter out there, me. She came to me later after her month long stay in the hospital and she said, “Jyoti, maybe if I was smart like (the other girl’s name), then everyone would have supported me too, and the surgery didn’t even make me smart.” You can probably deduce that at this point the waterworks had started. They sure did, I cried for days, wishing I could do something, give her my intelligence (not that I have much) or even just yell at all these kids that made her feel like she’s nothing.
But you know what, she wasn’t down because no one said anything to her, she stayed positive. She started 8th grade, worked her butt off and got straight As for the first time. She started coming to me for fashion advice, and on how to style her uneven hair. And she continued to treat those kids who aren’t nice to her with the utmost respect and kindness. She still makes them feel special. And they still treat her like nothing.
I sit here and watch. All I want to do is strangle these kids and make them realize how wrong they are. You may not think they are wrong, but I do. I know they are all genuinely nice kids and I also know what being a teen is like and how important it is to be ‘cool’. Being friends with someone that’s not completely normal, is super ‘uncool’. Or at least that’s how they think. But honestly being nice and being friends with kids like my special someone is the coolest thing possible. It makes you a person that lives above the cliches and the fads. You standout for being down to earth and kind.
My special person is hilarious, her smile brightens my world and her loved ones’ world, she’s driven, beautiful, and has the biggest heart. All I wish for is for her to thrive more than I ever can.
What was this long obnoxious rant about? (Sorry about that!) It was just me trying to say, BE NICE. Don’t judge a person by their cover, or ever really. Have a clean heart, and never make a person feel left out. We’re all here in this world together, and the best way to make this world thrive is to make it thrive TOGETHER. Don’t pick on that kid that sits alone at lunch, sit with them. Don’t make fun of the boy with the funky shoes on, compliment his style. Don’t neglect someone who’s not as smart as you, help them.
Not trying to create world peace here, just trying to be a better person myself. I hope I didn’t make you mad, or sad, or annoyed.
I love you all.
-J
Chak De Phattey! 