Have you ever felt embarrassed by the things that you used to like?
When I was little, my parents would have me try many different activities. Music, ice skating, swimming, soccer, and more. And even though I liked some of these things, somehow one triumphed in the end: ballet. How this came to be, I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t remember much. But from then on it was over. Everything else disappeared. Ballet was my thing, the thing that I was good at. I made friends there, and it became my passion. But it also came with a downside. Every day, at school, I would be made fun of. I would have people come up to me asking questions like “can I see you twirl?” and “where’s your tutu?”. I didn't show that it affected me, but it did. I was a strong kid. No matter how much mocking I received, I would just come back stronger, more confident. I would tell whoever would listen that I did ballet, and it would become common knowledge wherever I went. That is, until I became a teenager. I became embarrassed, ashamed even. I didn’t want anyone to know. I still ...