As a child, I was very shy and small for my age. While this was not a problem for me at an early age, by the time I was a teenager, my shyness and size were my greatest faults. I was severely bullied as a teenager, and it was not until I was a junior in high school that the bullying stopped. However, at this time in my life I had turned to drinking with friends to fit it and feel accepted.  It’s now more than ten years later and I still haven’t had one drop of alcohol and surprisingly, with age, sobriety and maturity, my shyness has all but disappeared.

For those who have experienced bullying, let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.  And remember that drinking alcohol before you are mature enough to realize the responsibility and caution that must be taken, can steal your hopes, your dreams and your future.

B. DiNapoli -1 reaction