High+Peaks+Times

Newsletter generated by Club: Third draft I can't help but think back on my experiences at TCA. I've seen things that worry me, anger me, sadden me, and shocked me(in a good way). If I were to reflect upon these events it would start when I returned in the seventh grade. When I left, I had some good friends and everyone seemed nice, but in the year I was gone a lot had changed. My first day back I had expected to see my best friend happy to see me, instead he acted like I was a leper. My whole class just gave me unwelcoming glares. I spent the first week or so alone, no one would talk to me, except Garrett and Ben Christian. They made we feel welcomed, but my class didn't. I became the target of their insults and jokes for a long time. In that time someone spread a rumor that I was gay. I had tried to reach out to my class, but with this rumor they slapped my hand away for the last time. Now I ignored them, kept to myself, and stayed above the rumors and gossip so common to small schools. Many of the people in my class insulted me and the rest did nothing to stop it. I felt betrayed and I held on to that feeling for a long time. Well time went on, the worst students left and the rest started to genuinely change, but I was still hurt. I made amends with a few people and forgave the rest, but I never forgot about what they had done. Then Joshua Stewart spoke at our retreat. God used him to speak to me, and the message was clear. I had to let go of the past and move on. I'm still working on it, but it's hard to change over night. The actions my class took scared me and changed me. It left a lasting effect on my life. So I urge as someone who's been there, before you say or do anything, like making rumors, think about the effect you will have on that person and how you would feel if it was you. -Ethan