It was a beautiful, sunny Monday morning. The Syrup family, who were new to the neighborhood, were getting ready to start their day.

Wally, their only son, was getting ready for school. He was very nervous since he was starting a new school in the middle of the school year.

Momma Syrup walked into Wally's room and noticed that he looks very sad.

I am, but… what if they don’t like me because I look different from them.

What’s wrong, Wally? I thought you'd be excited to start at a new school.

Momma Syrup laughed softly and assures him, ‘Even if they don’t like you, all you can be is simply you—and that is always enough.’ Wally hugged his mom tightly and then headed off to school.

When Wally got to school, he was amazed at how big it was. He felt excited, but also a little scared.

Wally walked into the big school and down the long hallways. His stomach was turning, and his hands were sweaty. When he finally reached his classroom, he felt nervous about walking inside.”

Wally walks into the classroom, and all eyes turn to him. He can hear his classmates talking about him and how he looks.

Why does he look like that?

He looks weird. I don’t want to sit with him.

Let's not play with him.

Wally feels a wave of sadness wash over him for a minute. As he looks at the floor, he remembers what his momma told him: 'All you have to be is simply you, and that’s enough.' Wally's wave of sadness slowly turns into a flicker of courage, and he lifts his head proudly