Mandy's Blog

Mandy Applegate

Miranda

February 16, 2012

Justice and Literacy through Photography

Getting into the Open School was the best memory and was a major milestone in my existence so far. I love the Open School. I have never been so thankful for something in my life. I went through hell last year. The Open School was my dream. I always wanted to go there, and this was the perfect time to apply. I was a student at Dunstan Middle School and it was probably the worst year I have ever gone through.

It was my first day of middle school. But, I had confidence because I was going to be going to school with all my friends from elementary school, but of course there was also a bunch of new students. At first, I was considered one of the “popular” girls. I had a bunch of friends, and I dated all the cutest guys. I seemed happy, although I never was. But, then I realized these weren’t the people I wanted to spend my time with. I was acting like somebody I’m not. I was ordered around by girls that never even liked me. So I quit hanging out with the “popular” kids, broke up with my boyfriend and turned a new leaf. I didn’t really have any friends at this point, but I didn’t care. I made myself happy, being on my own like that. It was new and different. But the kids around me weren’t happy. They were angry I left the popular crowd. They were angry I was finally starting to express myself the way I wanted to be because some kids actually left the “popular” crowd to hang out with me. I was cooler than them so they wanted to hang with me instead.

Things started going downhill. I was hearing my name when I walked through hallways. My Facebook was blown up with all hate; “Ugly, emo, fat, whore, hideous, fake”, and so much more. People would throw things at me when I was on my way to class. They turned me in the office for things I wasn’t guilty for. They tried getting me expelled. Because they hated me, and still to this day I don’t know what I did wrong. I quite wearing make up because I found no use in it. I was going to get smeared off from tears anyway. I didn't know what i was going to do with my life if i had to stay there for a another year. I tried so hard getting through that year in one piece. I applied to Jeffco Open in April. I was waiting all through summer, sitting around and waiting for the call. And finally, the Sunday before school started JCOS called me and said that I got accepted. I have never been so happy in my life. It brings me to tears writing this because I’m so thankful for an amazing place like this. Where I can be loved.
Jefferson County Open School: You changed my life. Thank you.