By Kara Hallam

Enterprise Editor

@KaraHallam

A girl gets bullied out of one school only to end up a prom queen nominee at another. For most of her four years of high school, she fights an unknown chronic disease only to find a miracle solution her senior year.

Sounds like the perfect Disney movie, right?

Although my synopsis may make the perfect TV Guide summary, it’s far less put together as it sounds. Because, although Disney teaches us the basics, sometimes they leave out what goes on behind the scenes.

I don’t want to share my sad little story and throw a big pity party and glorify my “struggling.” In fact, I consider my story just like anyone’s else’s – we’re all dealing with something.

I entered my freshman year with a positive attitude and did the best I could to ditch my shyness, and it was met immediately with an wall of isolation. I went to a private school where most of the girls had known each other since kindergarten, and it seemed no one felt like making new friends.

On my 16th birthday, I made the decision to switch to Coppell High School.

Although terrified of a repeat experience, it turned out to be the best decision I ever could have made during my time in high school. CHS is a wonderful place and this is a wonderful community, I cannot stress enough how much you should appreciate this amazing school.

I got involved in newspaper, and for once during high school, I had teachers who liked me and supported me. Suddenly everything was in my favor, which was a completely new experience for me.

Adviser Chase Wofford and The Sidekick are different from other high school programs. If you put in the work and effort, you will succeed.There’s no politics, no methods nor playing favorites.

My  transition really taught me that nothing is truly hopeless and that people are kind and good. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

Speaking of trying new things, this brings me to the next part of my story; my struggle with chronic migraine for six years.

The problem was unmanageable, and I felt like I struggled with something that only in my head. No one knew what I had or how to help me, but when a new doctor (see, trying new things is good) discovered my scoliosis, I embarked on a pathway to a chiropractic solution.

I am so much healthier now but most of all it was so nice to finally put a name to all that was wrong with me. I wasn’t making up all the pain I felt; I had a real problem. Being validated helped me grow and move on with my life.

It also made me feel so much less guilty to acknowledge my physical and social limits. I am sick and it’s OK to say no sometimes to people. My sickness is a part of me and knowing that it really was something real made me finally able to accept many parts of myself.

So I say to you: stop saying you’re different, we’re all different.

Trust me, it never made sense to me but it’s the same exact idea that has helped me the most in life. Disney movies like to tell us there’ll be that one moment where we figure everything out and from then on nothing can stop us. I would have to say sometimes it takes a lot longer, there are not epiphanies that suddenly solve everything.

I believe we try too hard to find meaning in things that happen to us, that there are some sort of terms we have to come to in order to move on. Sometimes that’s true, but sometimes the best way to move on, is to just move on.

Positivity can get you through anything but if not, time heals so much more than you could ever imagine. And not caring about what people think about you is not something you can convince yourself into, it’s something that just happens when you finally grow up and realize how ridiculous it actually is.
As for me, I’m just excited that I get to go off to an amazing school, Southern Methodist University, majoring in something I have loved since I was a kid – accounting. I’m happier, healthier and can’t wait to start my new life. Now it is time to search for yours.