Come join me for a very special edition of If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! We'll be taking time out to share some memories. We'll Blog Back Time with possible ways to right past wrongs or about how times have changed. We'll share childhood memories, school/work memories, family and friend memories.Today's topic is: First Time I Stood Up for Myself
Sixth grade was the first time I ever stood up for myself. It was gym class, outdoors, we had just finished calesthenics (do they make kids do those anymore?). Mr. O'Riley, our gym teacher picked captains for basketball. As per the usual, all the good players and popular kids got picked first. Actually I had pretty good basketball skills, I could make the baskets alright, block, but this fat chick couldn't run fast. It was always Carrie Roberts and I that were left. (She was the quietest person I ever met. Very shy, in grade school, she NEVER spoke. Ever! Well, not until junior high when we were in study hall and I engaged her in passing paper football notes. We were both too goody 2 shoes to get caught. Lol!) This time she got picked before me. Then...wait for it...wait...can you guess?
I DIDN'T GET PICKED. Yup, that's right, I didn't get picked AT ALL! Mr. O'Riley didn't notice and had everyone run over to the basketball hoops. Since I wasn't part of either team, I didn't join them! I sat by the monkey bars, all by myself, my back to their game. Gym class had about 10 minutes left when Mr. O'Riley finally noticed me. He walked over and told me to join them. I told him no, I wasn't picked for a team and I was NOT going to join them now.
Seriously...it took him that long to notice me? He raised his voice and kept insisting. Mr. O'Riley was a big, burly, football player type. Very intimidating. I held my ground nonetheless. It was so empowering for this fat girl to stand up for herself and in effect say, 'They didn't want me, well then they can't have me!' 'You know what? You're not going to embarrass me any further.' I turned and walked away, while he was still taking and walked over to the school's front steps and sat waiting for the bell. I didn't know how to flip someone off or term f' you at the time. Had I, I think I would have employed them. I was just so angry. I had never, ever defied a teacher, but I would be damned if I was going to draw attention to myself, in front of the whole class by joining them so late. Clearly they hadn't noticed I was missing. I stood my ground and surprisingly, I didn't get into trouble for it. I guess he realized that his not keeping proper track of students in his class trumped my not participating in terms of which violation was more egregious.
And that's the first time I stood up for myself. How about you? Was it in school? On the school yard? College? Dating? Divorce? Married life? On the job? When was the first time you said, 'no this is not going to happen', or 'I'm doing it my way', or 'you can't tell me what do to'? Please post your "First Time I Stood Up For Myself Memory" on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE.
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
I DIDN'T GET PICKED. Yup, that's right, I didn't get picked AT ALL! Mr. O'Riley didn't notice and had everyone run over to the basketball hoops. Since I wasn't part of either team, I didn't join them! I sat by the monkey bars, all by myself, my back to their game. Gym class had about 10 minutes left when Mr. O'Riley finally noticed me. He walked over and told me to join them. I told him no, I wasn't picked for a team and I was NOT going to join them now.
Seriously...it took him that long to notice me? He raised his voice and kept insisting. Mr. O'Riley was a big, burly, football player type. Very intimidating. I held my ground nonetheless. It was so empowering for this fat girl to stand up for herself and in effect say, 'They didn't want me, well then they can't have me!' 'You know what? You're not going to embarrass me any further.' I turned and walked away, while he was still taking and walked over to the school's front steps and sat waiting for the bell. I didn't know how to flip someone off or term f' you at the time. Had I, I think I would have employed them. I was just so angry. I had never, ever defied a teacher, but I would be damned if I was going to draw attention to myself, in front of the whole class by joining them so late. Clearly they hadn't noticed I was missing. I stood my ground and surprisingly, I didn't get into trouble for it. I guess he realized that his not keeping proper track of students in his class trumped my not participating in terms of which violation was more egregious.
And that's the first time I stood up for myself. How about you? Was it in school? On the school yard? College? Dating? Divorce? Married life? On the job? When was the first time you said, 'no this is not going to happen', or 'I'm doing it my way', or 'you can't tell me what do to'? Please post your "First Time I Stood Up For Myself Memory" on your blog. Then come back to Lola's Diner and leave the actual post link here. Please grab the html code for If I Could Blog Back Time Thursdays! Badge HERE.
Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
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i was 18 and wanted to travel with my bf and rather than asking for permission i knew i wouldn't get i just told my dad i am going to Paris and yes i went , enjoyed it and didnt get into trouble....passed by for the challenge
ReplyDeleteI really do not remember, I have to think about it. I have always been a strong will person. So I have plenty of.."what you do not think I can do that..I show you!"..Stuff in my life,lol
ReplyDeletethought about it and Posted the Meme. it's up on my At home blog. Have a great Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure when the first time I stood up for myself was. I would say I was probably in 3rd grade and one of my sister's classmates (they are 3 years older) called my a name and I yelled at him and kicked him in the knee. I guarantee you he never called me a name again and I developed a reputation...don't mess with that one.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that was the first or one of the first...and around that time is when I decided not let anyone pick on someone I cared about either...nobody messed with my friends after a short while...
Kelly
Easily it would be when I wanted to go to college and my Dad wanted me to get a job (because college was a waste of money for a GIRL as you could get just as good a husband working as a secretary). We battled over this for a long time! Eventually I won, but with no financial help from my family, but ultimately I had the last laugh--cause I got my education, a good job, AND a husband! :)
ReplyDeleteMy story is up on my blog. Great topic! Happy Thursday, everyone!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great story and from one
ReplyDelete"fat chick growing up" to another, thank you.
Anne
Oh, man, what a jerk he was. Nowadays, I have found the gym teachers to be the most sensitive to that issue. Em's had a couple great ones who have ended that crap. Sorry that happened to you--but wait!! Look how YOU controlled the situation. Yea Lola!! Here's a middle school hug for you, pally.
ReplyDeleteI think mine was after my dad died. It was a couple years later and I was in the 4th grade. I had a flat on my bike and my brother was playing all god-like and refusing to help me fix it. F*cker. (He still is) Sooooo, I figured out how to do it myself and I DID. When he offered to help midstream I told him to stuff it or something. I guess it wasn't telling anyone off as much as showing the world I didn't need anyone. Not my dad, not my stinky brother, not my mother who would not make him help me. "Eff all of you" I was thinking. I'm still like that today. Eff all of you. (Well, not you readers--just my family)
I really don't remember when the first time I stood up for myself. Probably not until I filed for divorce the first time. Great food for thought that is for sure.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't remember! Good for you for standing up for yourself. I was always one of the last ones to get picked.
ReplyDeleteI'll seriously have to wrack my brain for that one. All I can say for sure is it was a lot later than the third grade. Good for you Lola -By doing that it was standing up for gym class losers (yes, me too) everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you stood up to your stupid gym teacher.
ReplyDeleteBTW, i'm still thinking of the first time i stood up for myself!
I never had a problem standing up for myself, but I do have a humiliating P.E. story to share.
ReplyDeleteI was 13, in a new school. I had to make a schedule change so I went to the P.E. teacher with my pink slip to get signed. She looked at me, sighed, and said, "Not another new student." Umm, no, beyotch--I've been in your class for 3 weeks. Way to make me feel invisible!
@ Equidae - Wow, Paris, good for you. I bet you had a wonderful time.
ReplyDelete@ Kelly - There's nothing like getting a reputation early.
@ Patricia - Bonus for you getting the education, a great job and a great husband!
@ chicamom85 - Unfortunately it's not my only fat chick gym story.
@ Lin - Thanks for the hug. Way to be resourceful! And before the internet no less!
@ Jenn - That teacher was a real jerk. Wonder if you even got marked "present" in class those 3 weeks.