Queen of the Prom, Bully, or Chubby Weird Kid? Which One Were You?

“Pick me out of this photo,” I prompted three AI agents.

Two of them got it wrong.

After all, who we are at 12 doesn’t necessarily predict who we’ll be at 70.

But I loved storytelling and was inspired by that amazing teacher (Mrs. Levy) in many ways. I was shy, overweight, and creative (into crafts, cooking, and writing even back then). I knew what it was like to be teased and bullied at home and in school, so I lived in a state of low-key anxiety and self-doubt.

And yeah…that chubby weird girl still lives in my head at times. But my fashion sense and camera friendliness have improved dramatically.

As we enter “back-to-school” season, reflect on who you were and who you are now. If you’re feeling REALLY brave, reach out to classmates you may have lost touch with and share memories.

If you are in this photo and we’re not already connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, I’d love to hear from you. As traumatic as those years may have been, I think I’m kinda over it now!

And if you want the complete skinny (or chubby) of my youth, check out YOUR NERVE on Substack.

And if you still haven’t “graduated” yet, use these five prompts to figure out who you want to be this semester.