I started a new school in the 7th grade. Arguably the worst time to move. Coming from my background of illness that had led to a lot of home schooling and not a lot of friend interactions, it was hard. My mom showed up about halfway through my first day at the new school and as soon as I saw her I started crying. In the middle of the patio. Where all the other kids were walking to class. I didn’t know anyone and felt overwhelmed at the prospect of making friends.

I wish I could say that first day of 7th grade was the last time I cried at school but it wasn’t. I didn’t have friends for years. That sounds crazy, right? Well, maybe to some of you it doesn’t. Maybe you know what it’s like to not have friends. So do I. Sure I had people who talked to me in class. And I felt well liked in class, but for whatever reason I couldn’t find friends until I was almost out of high school.

Some of that was my own fault and some of it was just the circumstances in life. But I learned a lot in the years of absent friendship. I grew. I observed. I overcame. And lastly, I developed a strong sense of self.

You can grow out of this, whatever this is. You may feel alone now, but you can grow. You can overcome. It is a rare person who walks through life without any sense of loneliness, insecurity or fear. I know that now, even if I didn’t when I was in 7th grade.