#1
Years later we got in touch through FB and he told me how difficult things had been in school, growing up with no father and a mentally ill mother.
That's a lesson to learn: sometimes the weird kid seems weird because they are doing their best to try and live in a bad situation.
#2
Well, as you scroll through the list, you will realize that some of these "weird kids" are not really what they were labeled. In fact, we understand that there are quite a few underlying factors and issues that come to light.
To understand more about it, Bored Panda reached out to Shazia Lalljee, who has over 2 years of experience as a teacher. She stressed that "weird" is a social construct formed to criticize someone.
"I personally believe that labeling someone as 'weird' has less to do with the individual's quirks and more to do with society's inability to embrace differences," she added.
#4
Well, a few years ago I randomly moved in across the street from him. He’s fully retired from a cushy IT job when he was like 45 and he’s married to a smoking hot German woman.
#5
I looked him up not too long ago as we were talking “whatever happened to ….. Not a surprise I guess; he is involved in deep space research. Has a couple fellowships and writes papers about stuff that I can’t even understand the titles.
To further elaborate on her point, Shazia explained that children in their formative years are learning to conform to the societal norms and expectations that they are taught. As per her, when they encounter a different child, they label them as "weird", usually mimicking adults' biases of what is considered "normal" in society.
"Labels of any kind can impact a child. Being singled out and being labeled 'weird' definitely impacts their self-esteem and might also lead them to suppress their individuality to fit in or isolate themselves," Shazia noted.
#7
#8
#9
We spoke to Shazia about her thoughts on being “weird” in school, and whether it is something students grow out of or just a sign of creativity and uniqueness. She smiled and said, "That's a tough one to answer, simply because every child chooses their own path."
She expressed that some choose to grow out of it because being liked and feeling a sense of belonging to the group matters to them. Other students, according to our expert, retain their creativity and uniqueness.
"This also depends on many factors. I have seen some children with a strong support system at home or a friend circle that accepts and motivates them for their uniqueness. Some enjoy being in the spotlight and embrace being different, so they never grow out of it," she emphasized.
#10
Someone once referred to me as "the cat girl with the socks". I wore cat ears and thigh high socks to school almost every day. 😂😅.
#11
#12
It was me. I did that.
Lastly, while concluding the interview, we asked Shazia about how, as a teacher, she approaches encouraging individuality while managing behaviors that might disrupt the class. She replied with some really wise words that every new teacher might find helpful.
Shazia said, "It's actually easier than it seems. Teaching students while retaining their individuality is all about channeling their unique qualities through creativity. It simply requires observing them carefully and acknowledging their strengths."
"Once children feel seen, heard, and accepted, they naturally regulate their individuality to ensure the class functions smoothly. As a teacher, I never miss an opportunity to give a child their moment to shine, allowing the entire class to view their individuality as a gift rather than a subject for debate or acceptance," she added.
#13
Hissed at anyone who came near him.
Used to run through the hallways from class to class.
Threated to [end] me in a computer lab because I used internet explorer instead of firefox.
#14
#15
Then one day they all fell out.
He was strange, but pretty harmless.
Our expert really got me thinking about how social constructs can actually harm these young, budding minds, and what a loss it can be if they lose their creativity in the process. Many netizens confessed that they were the weird kids in their school, but only because they were going through something and nobody sympathized with them.
Well, as you scroll through the list, take a closer look at these antics by the so-called "weird kids" and see if you can figure out the underlying issues. Also, feel free to share such instances in the comments as we'd love to hear from you!
#16
I remember seeing him sitting alone and asking if he wanted to sit with us, and he replied
"I know you are but what am I?"
I said "mm yeah, but do you want to come join us?"
"I know you are but what am I?"
"I'm being serious, come join us"
"I know you are but what am I?"
"Okay nevermind"
"I know you are but what am I?".
#17
#18
#19
#20
