Bullying Made Me Confident

My Story: I remember many experiences as a child where I was bullied or picked on because of my hearing loss. I believe things were a little different than they are now, and people were simply not aware of the various “differences” humans can have. Unfortunately, bully is not unheard of, but I can speak from my experiences and say that being bullied made me a stronger person. I vividly remember many afternoons coming home from school and crying to my mom. There was one particular person who would make fun of my hearing aids being so bulky in my ears. In fact, that experience made me so embarrassed that it took years to finally wear my hair up and away from my ears. I never wanted anyone to see my hearing aids and I would brush my hair to lay flat over my ears. This same experience would encourage tough conversations with my mom. She taught me that being different was special and that I was given this “gift” for a reason. I firmly believe my confidence originated from these types of conversations. As I grew up and technology advanced, I was able to transition to hearing aids that are not easily visible while inside my ears. It was around the age of 15 where I can remember feeling comfortable enough to wear my hair up whenever I wanted. I played sports and loved being active, but that was the only time I would wear my hair up in a ponytail until I gain the confidence to not care what others thought of me. I remember being a young teenager and my mom told me, “You were given this gift because God knew you were strong enough to handle it.” I would not consider myself a very religious person, but I believe those words describe exactly the type of person I am. I am constantly reminding myself that I have overcome a lot and lucky to have such a great support system. I cherish the moments where I am excited to educate, empower and share my experiences with others, in the hopes that it helps just one person.
 
Here's a Little Help: While we know bullying is not acceptable, I encourage you to look at how the experience can improve confidence. I was lucky enough to have family members who would push me to stand up for myself, share what I believe in and forget the things that I cannot control. Unfortunately, bully is presented in all walks of life but I believe the way you overcome those situations is what makes you a tough person. If you find yourself needing to talk through experiences of bullying, my door is always open. Communicating with others can help empower confidence!