I woke up this morning remembering back to my pre-high years when my Phys Ed teacher announced a field trip to go see the Harlem Globetrotters. Whoever got their money in first would be the lucky ones to attend. I was by no means athletic but I LOVED the Globetrotters and so really, really, REALLY wanted to be on that bus.

Excited, I went home and begged my parents to let me go. Of course, being the kind of parents they are, they did everything they could to make it happen. By the next morning, I was happily going to school with the money clutched in my tight, little fist.

I arrived in class early so I could give my teacher the required cash. I was sure I would be in good timing to secure my spot.

Well my teacher took one look at me, then one look at the money I held in my outstretched hand, and advised me that I was not allowed to go because I did not take part in her after-school activities. Apparently the trip was only for the selected favourites since at no point during the announcement had it been mentioned that there were certain requirements that must be met before any one student would qualify.

I was devastated and heart-broken. Instead of encouraging me to become more involved in athletics, her response left me wanting to get out of Phys Ed as quickly as I possibly could. Not only had I always sucked at it, and felt like a loser every time I was one of the last ones picked for a team, but now I was left feeling embarrassed and rejected while those who were already in the class watched me walk silently to my desk, as I tried desperately to hold back my tears.

The moment I was able to drop Phys Ed from my schedule, I did. Thus began a life of inactivity that is, admittedly, in part responsible for my diabetes.

My word of advice to all teachers: think before you speak or react. Your actions may seem right but you can permanently impact a young child’s life in a very negative way. You truly have the ability to make or break them. What doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, can be of great import to a shy, awkward child who’s just struggling to fit into a world where they feel like an outsider.

No one was ever made to feel encouraged by being purposely excluded until they agreed to conform to narrow-minded opinions of what they should be. No two different-shaped pegs will ever fit into the exact same slot.

Perhaps what would have been more appropriate would have been to either secure more seats so that everyone could go, regardless of athletic ability and involvement, or to state all the requirements at the outset of the announcement. Rules shouldn’t change, after the fact, thus making the minority feel like they’ve been smacked down yet again.

Just saying…