Growing up, I would cry myself to sleep wondering why I was not invited to the sleepover. Growing up, I did not understand how other people made friendships so quickly. Growing up, I never understood what I did that made people not want to hang out with me. I finally realized there was nothing wrong with me at all but with the people who have never been left out.
I care because others have not cared about me.
I am not a better person because of where I grew up or the family that raised me. It was because of the tears I cried over not getting invited to that hang-out with all the “popular” kids. Being left out taught me to care about others regardless of our differences.
I listen because I have not been listened to.
One thing I know for sure is that being dismissed because of who I am is something I will never do to others. We are all human and deserve someone to listen to them. If no one will, I will.
Growing up is hard.
Regardless of your social and economic background, growing up is difficult for everyone. So why leave out the shy kid when talking about a sleepover right in front of them? Even in college, I see this happen every day. Since it is my first year at SFA, I am trying to make new friends, but I am struggling a tad bit. I try to remember that I am not alone, and millions of people have felt that way. I must be patient and realize that I will never stop being left out in some cases. But if I find people that genuinely care about me, they will not forget about me.
It is okay to be left out.
Now hear me out: being the odd person out or being forgotten is a HORRIBLE feeling. But you will get through it; I did, and I still do, I am the person I am today because I was not invited to the sleepover and because I did not always make friends quickly. Being left out taught me to be a better person and I would not want it any other way.