LINDSEY ERIN, “JUST AS I AM”

Posted: 4/26/2013

My school days … where do I start? My years in elementary school were my best years ever. I was an A-student and loved going to school. Sixth grade was pretty normal. However, it all started in 7th grade. That is when my nightmare began.

I became friends with a good bunch of people. However, one of them was a jealous person that would rebel when things didn't go her way. She would spread random rumors about me. She said I was ugly and fat. It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough which destroyed my self-esteem. She would post things about me on MySpace. The school logged onto my account and everything was deleted by her. The school labeled me as the trouble maker.

This boy and his friends would stare and laugh at me during lunch. One day I snapped and poured a slushy over his head. I learned that retaliation was NOT the answer. As a lesson to everyone in the 8th grade, the kickball tournament was cancelled. They used the slushy incident as an example. Everyone hated me. Even my friends were afraid to be with me because they would get picked on by the other kids. After that, I kept faking being sick so I didn’t have to go to school. I didn’t want to tell my parents the truth because I didn’t want them to go to school. That would cause too many problems for me.

In 9th grade, I became a rebel or otherwise known as a know-it-all that could do no wrong. I thought if I fit in with people, I wouldn’t be bullied. I got in trouble at school and didn’t care about anything, including my parents. I finally woke up and got away from that group. Well, it all started again.

In 10th grade, I fell in love with Disney music. The lyrics inspired me to become a better person. I always liked to sing so I asked my parents if I could take singing lessons. Life couldn’t get any better … I thought.

They made fun of the clothes I wore, the music I listened to and the makeup I wore. They were making my life miserable. I would get prank calls at my house at all hours of the night.

I then met Brianna. She helped me through a lot. She was a true friend that I could trust with everything. I met her friends who were so welcoming of me. They didn’t judge me or try to make me be someone other than myself. They accepted me just as I am!

Now it was getting close to going to 12th grade. My parents enrolled me in Cyber School. Life was so much better for me. June 2011, I graduated. It was the greatest feeling when I accepted my diploma. I held my head high. Now I was ready to work towards my dreams of being a singer.

I met an awesome songwriter, Jerry Duncan. He had me listen to some songs and there was one that caught my attention, "Just As I Am". It talks about self-confidence and accepting yourself for who you are. I could relate to the song so much. It had a powerful message.

It took all the trials and tribulations of my life to realize how much bullying there is in this world. I know exactly what people are going through. If it wasn't for music, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Music changed my life. I never thought that I would be opening for National Country Acts on grandstands at fairs or going to Nashville to record a CD. But because I pushed forward each and every day, I am finally achieving those goals. I have come so far within the past 8 years. No matter how many times people push you down, always get right back up and move forward. We are all beautiful just the way that God made us. Never let the people hurt you in life get in the way of your dreams. I am living my dream” Just As I Am”.

Listen to “Just As I Am” by Lindsey Erin

By: Lindsey Erin