Confidence Pants Stories: Speaking Up

This story was sent in by one brave Anonymous Sparkler, who had the guts to ignore peer pressure! —Sparklers

I'm confident when I'm at the board solving complex super-genius equations. I was confident when I marched up to the principal and demanded he give respect to the drama club, not just the sports teams. I'm also confident that there's not a single pimple on my back. Well, half-confident.

But all of my confidence melts away when I'm up at the microphone, waiting to give a speech in front of my peers. They're watching me. With their eyes. Beady eyes, ready to judge me.

Time to get serious. I take a few deep breaths, and know that no one is going to be judging me. Well, they might be, but I don't care. What I'm saying is important. No one else can take this away from me.

They're not even paying attention to me. It's an assembly, who would? At least no one will remember this. I hope they do, though.

"I had a very close friend commit suicide," I begin.

Silence.

All eyes on me.

This. This is what I need.

"Do you know why he committed suicide?" I ask. More silence. My hands are sweaty, and my stomach is clenching. No. I need to do this. Confidence. Confidence pants. "Because he was bullied for being..."

I take a deep breath. "He was bullied for being a homosexual."

I expect snickers, and I get some. Rude boys elbow eachother and grin. My confidence melts away. This is terrible. I can't do this. Not while everyone laughs at a death.

I keep going though. I talk about bullying, and how wrong it is. I keep talking, and eventually the snickers cease. People are listening. Just like I hoped they would.

Confidence, I think. Keep the spirit alive.

It's the least I can do.

Have you ever had to stand up against something you know is wrong?

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