Our words carry great weight—more than we sometimes think. They often 1 people for decades, providing either the 2 to carry on or one more reason to give up.
When I was in my ninth-grade year, I transferred to a new junior school in Texas. I remember walking into the school cafeteria for the first time. I was all by myself. The other kids had built valuable 3 , while I didnˈt know a person. After 4 my way through the serving line, I slid into the nearest open seat. The kids at the table gave me a look, wrinkled their noses, and then laughed quietly. I could feel my face getting red with embarrassment. I looked 5 at my food. Finally, one of the kids 6 the ice. "Man! You have one big nose!" I was 7 . I didnˈt know what to say. I wanted to cry, but I managed a little laugh—like it didnˈt really 8 me. But it did.
Every day from that point forward, I would look at myself in the mirror. All I could see was that big fat 9 that overshadowed every other feature. I studied it from every angle, but kept coming back to the same 10 : I was only a life support system for a nose. It was my 11 feature. 12 , I eventually grew 13 that thought. But it really took me twenty years. Even now, I feel a little uncomfortable thinking about it. It just goes to show you how 14 words can be. Therefore, think twice before you 15 since a careless word can shape or misshape someoneˈs reality for years to come.
