Nicholas+Loberg

Journal 1

One instance where I had incorrectly stereotyped someone and I turned out to be wrong that had a significant impact on my life was in the 8th grade when I used to pick on a kid named Andy. I used to call Andy terrible cuss words and basically try to make his life a living hell. One time it escalated and I punched Andy in the face, although Andy was not hurt, I got suspended for a few days for my actions, I felt terrible about my actions and spent a lot of time thinking about them over my christmas break, when I returned to school following my suspension after christmas break I wanted to try to befriend Andy and get to know him a little bit better. So I began sitting by him in class, talking to him, and even being his partner on school projects. I began to think about how bad it would be to spend a day in his shoes, he has very few friends, he is constantly picked on. So for the rest of the my school career I did not pick on Andy, it's not like Andy and I ever became best friends, but I respected him because of all he had to put up with. This was a life changing expierience because now I give everyone a chance, I will never again judge a book by its cover.