Page 105 - Secondary School BEATS

Finding My Kaleidoscope: “Gather round the fireplace children! Let me

tell you all a story,” said old Sandra, Pulling up
Unveiling the Spectrum Within a piece of paper made long, long ago. As the
kids started to settle down, Sandra told them
a story about how she was insulted for her
gender long ago in school. “When I was a
When I reached highschool, I never quite I stayed in my room all day after school. little girl, I used to love being a tomboy! I
felt right. Something was always missing Often reading e-books and listening to used to love the colour blue as well. It was
when I grew up. Maybe it was because of music I had downloaded. It distracted me soccer competition day and I was so excited.
the terrors of my home life, or the way I felt from the bland, beige emptiness of my But, I overheard a few girls named Chloe, and
when I watched romance movies with my room. The sound that echoed through the Rachel talking about something. Rachel was
friends. But I'd have never guessed it would ceiling every time wind blew through my the school bully and was very jealous of me.
turn out this way. stained window, the feeling of hate I had Anyways, they were talking about destroying
for myself, and the screaming coming from soccer competition day by turning off the
During freshman year, I used to hate talking behind my closed door. electricity supply of the whole school! I had
to my peers about their love lives. I couldn't to stop my favourite day from getting
relate at all. I never thought of a man like I remember one day, I was at Liv's house. destroyed! So, I went up to them and said,
that, but I felt like I had to. My friends She had wifi so I usually visited there to use Don't do that! Some people don’t want
always talked about their crushes. "He's so my laptop. I got a news notification that I soccer competition day to get destroyed!
attractive! I wonder when he'll finally notice caught from the corner of my eye. A parade, Rachel, the girl who is jealous of me and the
me... Maybe I could ask him on a date?" Said a parade to celebrate our differences. The school bully said “Oh of course! You wouldn’t
my friend, Liv, who, I now realized, I had a colors of the rainbow on their flags were a want soccer competition day to get cancelled
crush on. She made me so happy, like a sight to see after being in my cream coloured because you are a *boy*! You like soccer and
warm breeze in winter. I loved making her room all day. "Hey Liv, look at this." I said to blue, unlike other girls here.” I was so mad at Shattering the Stereotypes
smile and we stayed friends throughout the her as I got off her pink bed. "Ew. They're so Rachel to say that to me! But I was even more Breaking the Chains,
school year. I could never tell her how I felt weird. Why would they do that? There are mad at her for discriminating the genders!
about her; I knew how she'd react to it. She kids there!" She replied with disgust. People should get equal opportunities no
never approved of what I felt, and often gave matter what their gender! It’s not that boys
me a side-eyed look when I mentioned how That was my last straw. "I'm going." I said like blue and girls like pink. It’s not that boys
pretty the girls on the volleyball team were. and walked out. I was never so confident in play sports and girls do their nails. Both
Who knew eyes could look so cruel? my life, but now I was sure where I wanted genders are equal and should get equal job
to go. When I finally reached there, I knew opportunities. All around the world, boys get
Going home wasn't any easier. My mom that was my home. With people like me, so many more and better job opportunities
loved preaching the Bible, sometimes, it'd people with colorful personalities. I pledged than girls. Soon, we should change this by
get on my nerves. The way she said (with to never stop being myself. I was enough for bringing gender equality to the world!
a cross in her hand, that in my opinion myself and that's all I needed. Together, we can make anything happen!”
was too graphic to keep at home), "Repent Sandra finished her story. Now, the kids
for your sins, for only god will lead you to By Aesha Eshal Athawale started to make posters and flyers on gender
paradise!" sounded so condescending. My equality. Sandra was so happy, as she took a
dad was never home; he preferred going deep breath, and fell asleep in her rocking
out with ladies he met at his office. I didn't chair.
have siblings I could depend on, well not So, we should all follow gender equality and
anymore. I had a sister, we couldn't talk never discriminate between a girl or a boy
about her at the time. She did something so based on their gender.
terrible. It wasn't important as she couldn't
help me. She never did. By Dishita Bakshi (MYP 1)

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