To kids who feel that they aren't as good as anyone else and like they don't belong.

About the Author

I'm a fourth grader with a sense of what it could feel like to be different and left out. You may go to school and say things you don't mean but you are the best you. If a friend says something mean, I don't think they are the perfect friend for you.

I am standing in front of an unfamiliar door. A whiff of a smell I remember briefly passes by, making my stomach turn. Then, at that moment l realize I will need to make new friends at school again. My stomach kind of sinks. 

I walk inside this unfamiliar door to my new home, with my head low as mom follows behind me.

As I walk into the new house I pass the bathroom and go up the stairs to find a room with a bed that looks like mine. I put my backpack on the bed, sit down and close my eyes. 

"one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," I say then take a deep breath and open my eyes.  them with a big deep breath. This usually makes me feel better.  

"Jewel, dinner time!" says Mom. I can hear mom yell from downstairs. 

"Coming." I respond.

As I sit down to have my favorite Dal Makhani and Nann for dinner, I ask  "Mom, what if kids say mean things? What if no one wears a hijab like me? What if no one likes me?"

Mom looks at me and smiles, "Think about how wrong those kids would be. You are amazing. Don't worry too much, you will make a friend that's right for you. Go to bed, and let's see what happens tomorrow. I will always be here to talk to you." 

That night I feel my heart beating fast. So many negative thoughts went through my mind. 

"You will have a bad first day." and, "You look weird." That night I could barely sleep.

"Ding, ding, ding" goes my alarm. I am not a morning person and I barely slept so trying to wake up is not easily done. 

I get dressed, take a deep breath, and walk downstairs.