She uses bullying experience to help her brother

“Where we lived in New York, it wasn’t the best environment. We had trouble finding a good place where my mother felt safe, so we moved around a lot. My mom would always try to protect us and isolate us from certain people. I didn’t really mind. I always had fun. I only remember the good times, to be honest.

“Then we moved to Texas when I was 10, and I think that made me a little tougher. It took some time to adjust. I guess I was antisocial, or the kids here were just different or more mature than I was. It was hard making friends at first. Maybe it was the way I spoke. I had this little New York accent.

“And the way my mother dressed me was different. She liked overalls. A lot. So I was the girl with the weird accent and the overalls. Then middle school happened, and I began adjusting to my environment. I dressed accordingly with everybody else, and I guess my accent wasn’t as bad.

“Looking back on it, I wish that I wouldn’t have cared what other people had to say or think. I really took it to heart whenever kids would bully me for being different. Mom was always stressed and busy working, and my dad was as well. So at the time, I wished that I had an older sister or brother who could have been there for me.

“I’m the oldest of four kids. So now that my brother is 12 and in the sixth grade, he’s going through that weird stage of life. And I just keep telling him, hey, it’s OK. It happens to everyone. It’s normal. I just want him to know that he doesn’t need to be afraid and that he’s not alone.”

— Iris Chavez