I've just had an email from a 21-year-old. She has been "overweight" [her term] since a young age but always thought of herself as beautiful, until she started being teased for being "fat". This hurt, as you can imagine, and at the age of 15 forced her to change her style to that of a tomboy; looser clothes hid her figure.
This young 21-year-old is beautiful; she sent me a photo. She wants to change, she wants to reclaim her femininity, but is constantly concerned about what others will think of her.
I know only too well that school can be a harsh and cruel environment but how dare other small-minded, mean people do that to another person.
For those who bullied her, it was five minutes of sick, demeaning fun; for this young woman it has been years of heartache and low self-esteem.
I despise these people. They often have their own insecurities but mask them and feel better about themselves by lashing out at others.