When I was a kid, my teachers would say I talked too much in class. For me, it wasn’t about disrupting the class or bringing attention to myself. I was an enthusiastic kid that liked school even though not everyone perceived me as that. My sixth grade teacher didn’t particularly like me. I had no clue as to why but it didn’t bother me. Every Friday we used to do a timed vocab quiz and there was a silent competition among the kids in the class of who could finish first. I am super competitive and I tried so hard to get first every time we did this. I finished first one time all year and I was so excited I jumped out of my chair and yelled, “First!”. My teacher glared at me and told me to sit down. I brushed it off as another mystery as to why he hated me so much. After the first trimester, the teacher sits down with the student’s parents and discusses how the first trimester went. I had gotten straight A’s and never caused any trouble in my eyes, yet when my parents and my teacher had the conference my teacher told my parents that I liked to bring attention to myself in class and didn’t know how to humble myself. As I look back on it now, six years later, I know that what he said wasn’t based on observations but emotion. But at the time I took what he said and thought that maybe I had been a problem. From that moment on I became quiet, seemingly reserved, because in my mind being silent was being humble and not talking would keep people from seeing me as an attention seeker. So, if you see me walking down the hallways with my earbuds in all the time, the habit started as a result of trying to keep myself occupied to create the perception of being the opposite of an attention seeker. If you’ve had me in a class you know that I’m the kid that sits in the back of the class and will probably say one word all year but it’s not because I don’t care, I’m just more focused on what the teacher
has to say. When we’re having a conversation and I seem quiet, it’s not because I’m shy. I’m just
more interested in listening to what you have to say. A lot of people perceive me as spoiled and
an attention seeker because I wear overpriced clothes. But get to know me and you’ll never see
me showing off my clothes on social media, you won’t catch me bragging to people about how
much my jacket costs. In fact, I’ll tell you I got my clothes from Goodwill because I sincerely
don’t want to be perceived as arrogant or spoiled. Ever since my sixth grade teacher told my
parents I had to learn to humble myself, I’ve worked to keep myself out of the spotlight, be as
unknown as possible, and be as silent as possible because that’s the only way I knew how to be
“humble” and if there’s one type of person I hate it’s the one that likes to brag and show
everyone up. A lot of people still see me as a guy with rich parents and as someone who’s always
trying to be cool. My parents are middle class and I worked 36 hours a week during the summer
to get what I wanted and save for college. Do I like to dress nice? Yes. Do I buy overpriced
clothes? Yes. Do some people see my silence as not caring? Yes. Has my personality changed
since sixth grade? Absolutely. I can understand where people might misconstrue my personality
as distasteful. But at one point I stopped trying to explain myself to people and this may be the
last time I try to get people to understand who I am. If there was anything I would want people to
know it would be that I worked for everything I have and I’m a normal guy who’s lived his life
making sure people don’t see him as boisterous but as a guy who loves his friends, loves life, and
doesn’t try to be something he’s not. To many the criticism of a sixth grade teacher may seem
insignificant but it influenced me to become who I am today and although my outer shell has
completely changed since my childhood, inside I am still a fun-loving, loyal, normal guy who
doesn’t have much to say but is eager to listen to what you have to say.
38 comments:
I really enjoyed reading this piece. I can relate to it very much because as a child I was also very talkative during class I find it crazy how someone can say something so meaningless to them but so life-changing to someone else. Great work.
I really enjoyed your story and it makes me understand you more as a person. I really did think you were a super shy person, but i guess i was wrong. I like that you took your teachers criticism in a positive way that helped you become the person you are today. Great job!!
Wow I'm truly astounded! To begin with, sharing something so personal is never easy and takes quite some courage, so kudos! You took this recount of how you were misunderstood to a whole new level. Instead of taking "humbling yourself down" negatively, how you reciprocated this connotation positively is inspiring. There is a nice flow to this piece as you easily transitioned from an event of the past to the present and eventually led to an important message in the end. Great work!
wow brandon this was great i learn something new about you every day! the imagery and way you explained yourself was very good, it made it easy for me to understand, fantastic job!
- Krystal Cruz P.4
Your story was very interesting and eye-opening to show how people incorrectly judge other people. The way you described how you strived to show humility ever since sixth grade with Mr. Williamson was insipiring because I also had a hard time with him, too. Your story was very personal but enlightening to tell people that you are not the showy person that some may perceive you to be. Great job and great courage to share this piece!
Hey brother all I can say to you is one of the best teachings I've ever learned and that is to not care at all what people think of you and be who you truly are and the person that makes you happy. You work hard and can afford nice clothes by all means go flex that. Great piece!
Brandon, I absolutely loved your blog piece. I can relate to your experience as well as your personality of not having much to say but being eager to listen to what people have to say. You described your situation perfectly with great imagery and transitions to the point where I feel as though I know you personally! Great job!!
I really liked how the thoughts flowed. You used the second point of view really well to persuade the reader to relate to you. Well done.
Your piece was very insightful and showed who you really are on the inside. You explained how one experience changed you and has effected you still to this day. Awesome job
-Dominique MAdrigal per.1
Great piece brother! One of the most valuable pieces of advice I've ever heard is just be yourself and don't given any thoughts or care to what people think of you, those people will be nobody to your success in your journey in life.
Brandon, this was a very touching piece. I know that teacher that you are talking about, and I’m glad their behavior towards you made you into a better person instead of deteriorating you. Never apologize for being who you are and my biggest advice would be not to care what people think. None of those opinions matter if you don’t believe them. Thanks for sharing.
- Jennifer Kirksey
Though I know you at school, I never really knew much about you. Your story felt like an opportunity to know more about you and was completely relatable. I had some encounters in which my teacher disliked me or at least I thought they did. You got my praise man, keep it up.
In my opinion I think your sound like a very good person. I also ad teachers the bullied me growing-up and I'm sorry you had to go through that.
I really appreciate your piece, it unapologetically describes who you know you are, not who everyone thinks you are. People often have misconceptions about everyone around them, and often wrongfully judge people just for the way they carry themselves. However you put some of those people in their place. I find it really admirable how you do you. Excellent job Brandon!
This was a good piece. I feel Im misunderstood as well some people think I'm the rich girl and is spoiled because I tend to get everything I want but what they don't know is I work for it. you're right they would just have to get know the person to understand.
Oh boy. I know what teacher you're talking about and I too had a similar experience as yours. In elementary school I was pretty talkative, but in sixth grade I felt intimidated by him and that's as far back as I can trace my social anxiety to. I admire how you talked about such a personal subject that has had a somewhat negative consequence on you. But because of that you became who you are today and you should be proud of who you are. Thank you for sharing. Great job!
Thank you for writing this personal piece. The way you wrote this made it feel genuine and unscripted. Your description of the event made me sympathize for you in how that one event reshaped your whole personality.
Hello Brandon,
I am really glad that you wrote something that goes with your personality because this piece really describe who you are. And there’s nothing wrong with being enthusiastic and outgoing, there will be people who will try to put your voice down but you always have to stick with your own words. I could relate myself to these very much because i went through the same thing and sadly i still face people who wants to shut me down. I am really proud of you for sharing this because there’s more people like you and me are hiding there with the same problem.
-Taslima Ahamed
-Per: 05
Wow. I relate to this on some levels. I was the kid who always wanted attention, but I still talk a lot today in class. It's crazy to see what would have happened if I just stopped and listened to what other people have to say. Reading your story has made me come to the realization that I need to pay more attention to others because I never know if people want to say something since I never stop talking. Thank you for sharing this story and the growth and change you went through over the years of your education. I love it.
The honesty and becomingness in this piece is what attracted and held my attention. The real life aspect that you brought to the table really shows how you felt and how that changed your behavior and lifestyle. I seem to have undergone the opposite transition as I was always quiet and shy, until I decided that being silent wasn’t the way to meet people and advance socially, so I changed myself as well.
I enjoyed how you had the courage to speak on a personal topic as most choose not to do so. The imagery you depicted with the piece really brought out the development that you have had as a person as you spoke about how you were in the past, to how you are now. Also, It was cool how you changed a teachers negative opinion and turned it into a positive for yourself, good job man.
Reading your piece was very insightful, and the title accurately captured everything you had to say. The description you used of the very significant event in sixth grade that changed your persona is something I can relate to. Even though I don't know you too well, it is easy to see how well you captured yourself in this writing. Great work!
I really appreciated this narrative of your life, Brandon. I do see and empathize with you, especially with the matter of your 6th grade teacher. Although I never really viewed you as a shy, fancy or distasteful guy, I enjoyed reading this piece to even get a clearer idea of who you are. You clearly demonstrated a sense of confidence and an understanding of yourself rather than a shy or intimidated tone.
It takes a lot of courage to speak on a topic so personal and for that, I applaud you. You conveyed your emotions and insecurities with such sophistication and genuineness, which captured my attention and made the story easy to relate to. I can see your growth just within this piece and I know you will continue to experience even more as you continue on your journey through life. Good job! :)
It's strange how a single interaction can flip someone's behavior. I had a similar experience back in Kindergarten. You have a nice , conversational style in writing; and as far as I'm concerned, the only way to make this better would be to separate it into more paragraphs somehow.
Brandon I respect your courage for speaking on a topic that is so personal. You were very genuine about how you felt and your insecurities. It is crazy to think about how a small experience can alter someone's behavior. I liked how well organized this piece was and how well it flows. I see how you've grown ever since the experience and I am very proud of you. Great job Brandon continue to be a better person!
I feel exactly the same way. A lot of the time I don't speak or just watch and listen to the conversation without input. Some people see it as mean or shy, but it's just how I am. As a kid, someone told me I talked too much and they got bored with me, so I gradually stopped talking as much. I understand how it feels and I respect you for being able to share such a story. I liked how it felt like it was a conversation, it made it have a more personal feel to it.
I love how you're so brave to speak on this personal matter because not a lot of people are able to do that. Also I appreciate for teaching us to be more aware of how people really are and pretty much to never judge a book by it's cover. I'm sure we all have those moments where we get misunderstood once in awhile and it's good to know that you're not the only on this. Great job!
It's profound how the words of others can linger with us forever, both good and bad things that people have said to us. I like how you talk about being humble and how listening to others is different from remaining quiet. Great piece.
Confronting readers/an audience about their opinion of you, I know, isn't always the easiest... But I feel you handled this very well and very calmly, especially when it came time in the entry to mention your 6th grade teacher being the reason for your change. However, and I hate to say this, you wont always be able to control what others think of you... Regardless of that, you are still a wonderful being who it'd be hard to think bad of in the first place. Amazing piece (: -Imani Crenshaw, per. 2
Mekka Johnson March 5, 2018 at 5:06pm
I don't think I have ever met you, or probably because you are in the back of the class sitting quietly. After reading this, it broke my heart that someone like a teacher would take total power and mold your future for you. People in society tend to always judge people for what the have on, for being quiet, or not fitting in. It sucks that you even had to experience that at a young age. I knew from the start that I would love your journal entry because of the title "misunderstood" often times I feel like I am misunderstood by my parents for the simple mistakes that humans make. I can only imagine what you had felt at that age, and probably still to this day.
I know exactly how you feel. Although I was never a very loud student, I had a similar experience with a teacher who did not like me. I am quiet, and socially awkward but I guess some people take this as me being stuck up. I've tried to teach myself to not care what others think, and although I have succeeded a bit, it is a very difficult task. I'm glad that you shared this personal story, and insight as to who you are as a person. It was very well written, and I very much enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed reading this Brandon. Im glad that you were able to dig deep down and write something that is really personal. I liked hearing about the changes you have made in your life. You wanted to humble yourself and you did not stop at anything until you achieved your goal and I really liked that.
-Steve Martinez Period 1
Your story is truly relatable and an issue that needs to be brought to light more often than it is right now. Criticism, especially from those who are older than use, is something that can greatly affect younger people and influence their growth in the future. For me, a lot of what people say can really change the way I act, though people might not be able to fully understand my emotions and emotions of those who feel the same way. Thank you for sharing your personal experience, I felt that it let others (along with myself) know they aren't alone.
I really enjoyed this piece of writing because it has a very strong theme. In today’s society people are very judgmental and often get the wrong misinterpretation of people based off appearances and actions. I believe there is always a deeper story to a person and this piece exemplified it, the teachers got the wrong impression of you when there was more to it than they knew. This work is very relatable and inspiring.
-Rachel Adzaho, 2nd period
I really appreciated this piece Brandon. You shared your personal insecurities and thoughts which is hard to do. Your piece was very insightful, keep up the good work!
Wow this was a very insightful piece Brandon. Your relation of your small anecdote to a transforming stage of your life really made the story seem real. I've never talked to you so I didn't really know anything about you but now I hope I have an idea.
Thanks for providing insight of your personality and character. I’ve always found that observing others helps me understand where they come from, and I can sympathize with your pain of being misunderstood. It’s been a struggle for me too, and I thank you for writing how you’re dealing with this problem.
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