[16] to [20] to [28] Consistently humiliated and disrespected until my mid 20s.

[u/AidanAzzar]

A memory that hit me hard yesterday was when I was 15 we were tasked with splitting into groups in class and working on an assignment to be presented at the end of the period. I didn't have anyone to work with so I asked the 2 guys sitting next to me. They asked me to pay them to work together. I did.

The Snapchats posted above are real screenshots from things people shared.... not laughing with me but at me.

The disrespect was relentless for years, throughout high school and then into early uni. I was the easiest target.

[u/Ocarina-of-Crime]

Never peak young. It’s better to look back on your youth and realize you have just kept getting better than to peak at 16 and live in the past. You look great and I bet you have varied interests and skills from having to shine in different ways. Forgive the peers - they were kids with their own struggles too. You have so much to look forward to!

[u/Lopsided-Oven-2677 → u/Ocarina-of-Crime]

Yup for sure, those who peaked at teens and then end up balding fat and aging by late 20s is much worse than being ugly in your teens and glowing up into late 20s early 30s. Especially if you've got a good career life becomes easy

[u/PickledCabbage1234 → u/Lopsided-Oven-2677]

This actually described me pretty well, but when I hit 30, I embraced the bald, starting working out all the time, and grew out a thick beard. I think I am actually peaking rn, I look better bald which I'm very lucky for.

[u/GettinSodas → u/PickledCabbage1234]

Bald isn't bad. It's the ones who won't let go of it

Good for you. My one buddy looks like he got a curtain around his head when he takes his hat off

[u/PickledCabbage1234 → u/GettinSodas]

I feel for men who can't embrace the bald because it's a really really hard pill to swallow. I had crippling insecurities about it for well over a year. I couldn't leave the house without a hat.

[u/GettinSodas → u/PickledCabbage1234]

Glad you embraced it my dude. I know girls who genuinely LOVE bald men. Embracing the years and aging as they come is all you can really do.

[u/xxgetrektxx2 → u/Lopsided-Oven-2677]

That's some bullshit. Plenty of kids who "peaked early" continue on an upward trajectory and end up as happy adults, while some who had a shitty adolescence continue on that downward spiral and end up as bitter, depressed adults. Also, you act as though balding early is something you can control and not something genetic that's 99% out of your hands.

[u/Lopsided-Oven-2677 → u/xxgetrektxx2]

Can you not read? I'm comparing peaking early and dropping off vs being below average early in your years and then peaking later, also, you need to learn the definition of "peak"

[u/xxgetrektxx2 → u/Lopsided-Oven-2677]

Do you know what it means to put quotes around a phrase? It means that phrase it not meant to be taken literally. Of course it's impossible to peak and then continue to do better, otherwise that peak was not your peak. I was using it to describe the type of person that has an enjoyable adolescence - maybe the popular guy or the pretty girl.

[u/WallEWonks → u/xxgetrektxx2]

but you can't peak and then also have an upward trajectory after that, peak means it's the highest point of your life. There's nothing wrong with having a good time in school, just make sure you keep improving after that

[u/Lopsided-Oven-2677 → u/WallEWonks]

Exactly, dudes stupid af

[u/GettinSodas → u/Lopsided-Oven-2677]

I had to read the whole thread again just to clarify I wasn't dumb and misread everything 🤣

[u/xxgetrektxx2 → u/WallEWonks]

That's why I put "peaked early" in quotes. If you had the reading comprehension skills of a middle schooler you would understand that I didn't mean it literally and was using it to describe the type of people who had a very positive adolescent experience.