a. What challenges did you overcome throughout this story project? How did you go about overcoming these challenges?
One of the biggest challenges I faced while working on this story project was figuring out how to follow the typical structure of a narrative while staying true to my personal experience. Since this story was based on a real event from my childhood, it was difficult to force it into a “perfect” plotline with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Another challenge was gathering information about the old elementary school (Chaffee Burke) I attended, especially because it barely exists and there aren’t many resources online about it. I especially struggled with finding accurate pictures. Most of what I relied on came from personal memory, which led to another challenge — figuring out which memories were accurate and which were distorted over time. I often found myself questioning if certain details were real or exaggerated by my mind, like the scene where Sandy was crying to her mom may not have had so much gut-wrenching dialogue.
On top of that, I dealt with a lot of guilt while writing this story. Reflecting on past actions, especially moments connected to bullying or peer pressure, wasn’t easy. Recognizing some scenes, although exaggerated, were still true (all the body shaming) was a very reflective experience. To overcome these challenges, I allowed myself to write freely at first without worrying about structure. Later, I edited the story to fit more of a standard format. I also talked to family members about my memories to help clarify certain details. Most importantly, I reminded myself that this story was about reflection, not perfection — and that honesty mattered most.
b. How did writing and researching this story change the way you think?
Writing and researching this story didn’t necessarily change my perspective on bullying or the event itself — but it did give me a sense of relief and closure. This was a memory that had bothered me for a long time, and finally writing it out allowed me to process it more clearly. While my opinion on bullying hasn’t changed (I’ve always believed it’s harmful and wrong), this experience reinforced the idea that our childhood actions can have lasting impacts — on both others and ourselves.
It also reminded me how complicated growing up can be. All the children peer pressuring me to bully were not villains too. Sometimes, kids do things out of peer pressure or ignorance without fully realizing the harm they’re causing. That doesn’t excuse their actions, but it explains how easily mistakes can happen in environments where fitting in feels like survival.
c. What impact will this story have on others locally and/or globally?
I hope this story helps readers — whether locally or globally — understand how powerful their words and actions can be. Bullying and peer pressure are not just “small school problems”. They leave long-lasting scars on people’s memories and self-worth. My story shows that even seemingly harmless teasing or exclusion can deeply affect someone’s life.
More than anything, I hope readers realize that everyone is going through their own internal struggles, often invisible to others. While innocence might explain some wrongdoings in childhood, it doesn’t erase the hurt caused. Hopefully, this story encourages people to be more empathetic, reflective, and accountable for their actions — both in the moment and years later.
