Have you ever just felt like your being pushed up against a brick wall and there’s nothing you can do about it ? You’re not smart enough, you’re not strong enough? Well, Colt sure does- its called low self-esteem and it affects many teens in America. It can be caused by not having friends, doing bad in class and being bad at sports.

It was Colt’s first day of Middle School and he was very nervous that he was not going to be cool enough or smart enough or strong enough. He was very scared of his first day of Middle school.

I made it to my first period class –Math ,our teacher was Mrs. Glad and she started off class by calling role -“Charlie”. “Here” . “Jenifer”. “Here” .“Elise”. “Here”. “Colt”. I did not know what to say, I have never had a teacher who takes role, so I said –” yes Mrs. Glad “. Mrs. Glad said “no no no you’re supposed to say” here” . I said “here” and all the kids in the class started giggling.

When she started writing Math problems on the board and asked if anyone knew the answer everyones hands shot up , but mine . The teacher called on me and the class went silent . I freeze and could not give the answer, so she calls on someone else . I was so embarassed, I put my head down on the desk and thought to myself - I will never be as smart as a teacher.

I still felt pretty embarrassed about what happened in math , so when lunch started I sat alone. I could hear the rude comments, like the girls next to me were saying” look at that kid who did ‘nt know the answer –he’s a loser!” The boys at the table closest to the door were saying “ look at that kid all by himself , what a dork!” so I put my head down – MISERABLE!

I made it to my last period class-Athletics. The coach said “you have four major sports to choose from; football, basketball, baseball and soccer .” I was nervous that I was not going to be good at any of the sports because I’ve never played any of them.

I knew that I was not going to be big enough, tall enough, fast enough- so I did not do any of them. As I sat on the bench watching the other kids play, I thought to myself- I will never be a strong athlete.

School was finally over for the day. I ran back home hoping that my mom would not see me and ask about my day, because it was terrible! I ran upstairs and immediately went to bed.

The next day ,mom came into my room to wake me up and I said “ I think I’m sick”. She got the thermometer and stuck it in my mouth. She said” your temperature is fine -why do you not want to go to school ?” I told her “I am not smart enough ,cool enough or strong enough !” Mom said” you don’t need any of those things- all you need is family, friends and confidence!” I said “thanks mom ,you always know how to cheer me up !” After my moms pep talk, I started to get ready for school.

I made it to lunch without any problems ,but I still did not have any one to sit next to . Then this kid that I had never seen before came over to my table and said “hi my name is Dakota ,can I sit here?” I said “Sure , my name is Colt”. We talked the entire lunch about school , T.V ., sports, and video games. It was the most fun that I ‘d had at school . The bell rang and we said “bye”.

I saw Dakota in Athletics ,I said “you are in Track, what’s it like?” He said it was running and that he thought it was fun, so I joined the team. While we ran in Track we talked and talked. I think for the first time since school started- I smiled. Just like my mom said- you don’t need to be super smart or super strong or super cool - all you need is friends, family and confidence! So be like Dakota and if you see someone sitting all by themselves- go sit next to them, because it could make their day and yours!