[Lotus Eater]

Yes, it shattered my self-esteem and hammered my confidence. It wasn't the sole reason I began to perform poorly at school, but it was the reason I began to dread going to school. Having to be around my "fellow classmates" with their condescending stares and hurtful words made school a little less bearable than it otherwise would have been. Then again, bullying was just one of few issues I was facing at that time in my life, so I didn't let it rule/control my school-life to such an extent. It stopped after ninth grade for the most part, as people started to mature. But they always had this way of looking at me like I was below them...not fun.