This morning, I took some serious heat at school. Most of our teachers will tell you it's because of jealousy since I had a good month in sales this May and while that may be the case for some, it's unfortunately not the whole reason I took the heat this morning. I openly stated that I'm a Christian. In fact, I openly stated it trying to relieve some awkward tension and make a few people laugh and I did just that, but others didn't see it that way. The issue was that some people were taking a game we were playing a little too seriously and I tried to relieve some pressure in good fun after someone made some rude comments towards me by saying that I was a Christian so I wasn't going to comment back. Let me just clarify the following.
1.) I AM a Christian. And while multiples of you laughed and giggled about it in the corners and made snide jokes and remarks about it, I was sitting next to a group of people that actually have the capacity to recognize sarcasm and make light of a situation. Those people supported me and were embarrassed FOR you. So was I.
2.) I worked my butt off to make the numbers that I made this month. I advertised myself constantly. I wore everything Paul Mitchell outside of school to get people to ask about what I do. I dedicated my weekends to working at the school (let's not forget that I don't get paid for this.) I spent money buying people samples of product to use in hopes that they'd like it enough to buy some from me. I even paid for someone's service so she could see how much she'd love it and rebook. I should not have to feel bad while reaping my rewards for all of those things and there are a lot of you that tried to make it that way. I absolutely will not take that.
3.) I do not go crying to ANYONE'S office about situations like these. Not the owner's, not the counselor's, not the sales leader's, NOT ANYONE. I am an adult and as of right now I believe I can handle the situation myself and not have to go that far. But don't think for a second that just because I don't talk to them about it, they don't see it. They are not stupid. They are the most educated people in the building and they see it and know what's going on.
Lastly,
4.) Again. I am a Christian. And guess what? I have gay friends. I have lesbian friends. I have atheist friends. I have Mormon friends. I have Buddhist friends. I have any kind of friend that the "Christians" you're stereotyping me with would make fun of. In fact, the people you're stereotyping me with are the people who would do exactly what you did to me this morning to any of you. Go ahead, laugh and laugh. Tell me I'm a hypocrite. Tell me I'm a Bible thumper. Tell me I'm a stereotypical worldly view of a Christian. Laugh in the back of the room and high five each other when one of you is "ballsy" enough to say something out loud. I heard it. I saw it. Do you think that's the first time? Do you think you're the only person who has done this? Do you think I didn't see this coming when I enrolled into a secular school? Did you think I was unprepared? I'm not. If you'd like to talk about it, then TALK about it. I'm here all year.
Thank you to every single person that stood up for me today and encouraged me and hugged me after class and laughed about the situation with me. You guys are the prime examples of decent human beings who just plain get it. To everyone else, I hope you get it one day. I don't care what god you worship or don't worship. I don't care what gender preference you have. I don't care whether or not you can read my sarcasm and decide my sense of humor. I don't even care what comes out of your mouth. You're just a human being like anyone else and you deserve to be treated with respect regardless of the situation. Right? Just like I do.
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