This topic sounds like something a therapist will ask you when you have some self-healing to do. 

I was a little surprised when I read this title for the weekly tutor column.  Usually the topics are lighthearted, like "what is your favourite music" etc.

I was sitting in front of my computer for 5 minutes, thinking whether I should write something on this topic, or whether I should write about other things.  In the end, I decided to share part of my life here - my horrible middle school life that I have put behind me.

My nightmare started in the second year of middle school until the last year of high school.  My family moved to a different part of town, so they enrolled me in a different school.  My parents had no idea that this school and the school I was previously enrolled in, from grades 1-7 were rivals in academic and sports. They chose this school because it was one of the best schools.

As a new student, life was hard already.  When my classmates found out I came from the rival school, they started bullying me...and having pimples and looking like a geek certainly didn't help.

If I could go back in time to talk to the middle school version of myself, I will say, "please hang in there, be strong!  In a few years, you won't see these people ever again. Don't worry about what they say to you.  They are just a bunch of idiots."

Research shows that childhood and teenager bullying does leave long term psychological effects on people.  Self-talks like this may seem silly to some people, but over time it actually works.  It is part of healing.

If you had a tough time in middle school, have you gotten over it?  If you already put it behind you, that's great.  I am happy for you.