HS was definitely not a great experience on my end. I was depressed, thought there was something wrong with me, never attended any dances or major social events except football games b/c I was in the color guard (which was called the "dog squad" by kids at school)... There were a number of bright kids and I was in classes with them but, like someone else mentioned, they weren't my social group possibly b/c I had been terribly bullied in junior high and didn't realize that my fit would be with the smart kids rather than the kids who were social misfits. My self image was horrible and I was hospitalized a few times toward the end of hs and early college for suicide attempts and an eating disorder.
I'm really, really hoping that dds' middle school and high school experiences are much better than mine. Dd12 knows and has internalized in a positive way what is "wrong" with her. She is one of the most centered 12 y/os that I've ever met and middle school was actually a great experience for her. Her friends are all the school "nerds" but she is pretty popular socially as well. She knows that her true peers, though, are friends like one of her good buddies who is HG and 1.5 yrs older than she. My fingers are crossed that high school continues along those same lines for her.
