These people were mostly jealous of the effort that I put into everything I did. Maybe their personal lives didn't allow them the motivation to succeed, and they lashed out at me as a coping mechanism. I'd like to say, if I were in their shoes, that I'd be different, but I simply don't know if that's true. Regardless, being able to understand why people acted they way they did helped my self-esteem greatly. At the time, I felt horrible about my appearance and actions. After a while, I began reflecting upon why I had negative feelings towards myself. I connected the times I was bullied to all the feelings I had about myself. It wasn't easy, but looking back at the context of what people were saying to me allowed me to improve my self-esteem over time. Reflecting on the past made it easier to look at my reflection in the mirror. Today, I sometimes have trouble looking myself in the eye and smiling. Socializing can be awkward for me sometimes. However, more times than not doing such is easy. I know that I am a bright, young, African-American male attending one of the best high schools in Detroit and that my potential is limitless. Remembering this can always crack a smile for me, even on the gloomiest of