Every Middle Schooler tends to go through at least a few moments of absolute, life stopping, dizzying humiliation. I was a particularly awkward girl in my pre-teen years, so I would have given anything for just a few moments; I got humiliation dumped on me by the truckload. One moment sticks out in my mind.

I had been quite “in love” with a boy named Stan Masler. He was blonde, fairly handsome, nice, into acting, and he was in my language arts and math class.

A girl had informed me that a rather shy and quiet boy liked me. I knew this girl to love playing cruel tricks on nerds, so I didn’t believe her. Besides, I wasn’t interested in anyone other than Stan. I told her this, and she asked what I saw in him. I explained in detail. I heard a giggle behind me, and turned around to see Stan and his friends standing there. Turning beat red, I managed to mumble a “Uhngh, Hiâ€? His face displayed a mixture of what I interpreted as pride, amusement, and disgust as he calmly returned the greeting.