Let me start by saying, I am not a small woman. I went straight from 7lbs 1oz. to 286lbs and it seemed there was no in between. However there was, and so brings me to the moment that changed my life and all I had ever known.

I was in the 4th grade, 9 or 10 years old. A pretty, chubby child, with long dark brown wavy hair in pigtails.A Pudgy round face, I guess I even waddled when I walked. I was a very happy, loving and outgoing child, and I wanted to be a cheerleader. The 4th grade was when they started training for this activity. The intercom announced, anyone wanting to become a cheerleader, please come to the gym. Well, I stepped up and headed out to the gym, I was going to become a cheerleader! Oh I was so happy.

They were dividing the cheerleaders to be into groups of four. The leader/teacher of these four children consisted of 1 teacher and 1 older student. These older students were from the 8th grade or from the near by high school. It came my turn to show my my stuff. I was so full of excitement. They ask me what I could do, handstands,cartwheels, cheering. And to which I passed with flying colors. Then it happened, the teacher said, "Honey, your just too fat, you need to go back to your room." The older student echoed in saying, "Yeah, your way too fat and can never be a cheerleader, you need to go back to your room and stay." Now keep in mind, I am 9 or so years old. I never knew I was fat until those people told me I was. A loss of innocence at such a young age. My parents always told me that I could do what ever I wanted to do.And I thought I could. I was completely crushed when I heard these words come out of their mouths. I cried for weeks after that and never told a soul until I was an adult.

After such a traumatic moment, it took me years to believe in myself and to realize, that yes I was fat, but it didn't make me any less a person. I went through high school as the class clown and have always used my humor to diffuse most any situation. This day and time a teacher, to say such a thing to a child would be a law suit waiting to happen. And should be, however I would probably take the one on one approach, and be in jail myself. That took away my childhood, it made me see the world as a place with mean people and made me doubt myself. Which I had never done before. My parents were so good, I wasn't treated as a fat child, my friends didn't treat me as a fat child. I didn't act like a fat child until after I was told I was one. This haunted me for years and years.

How could people be so cruel? I never have uttered the name of the student or teacher that took away my happy childhood. I know them, I know where they are at. The student, is now fat. The teacher is a lonely soul. Karma will bite. Maybe I should in some way thank them, even though I went through a lot and lost a lot of tears through my school career, I have become a stronger person and respect people that may look a little different that the norm.What ever the norm may be. I am also a strong advocate of BBW (Big Beautiful Women) rights and against the discrimination of large people.

I hope this changes some peoples out look on things. Once a word is out there, it is always out there.We never know when one single word can change a life for the better or the worst. Be kind, show love and compassion. Life is good.

Learn more about this author, Queenie.
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