First Attempt at a self portrait

I've never really been one for painting, but I enjoy the quiet simplicity of it. Painting is very forgiving because if there's something you don't like you can just add more paint and correct it. This may not be my best work, but it most certainly won't be my last. My last project in art class is to paint another self portrait. I've always had trouble painting my nose ever since my sixth grade Art Class. Why you ask? Well in my 6th Grade Art class we had to do side profiles. I had been previously bullied about my nose from some very rude kids. To add to this the boys in Art Class were talking about what things were ugly. Other classmates chimed in “spiders” “worms” “warts” and then they began to name people. I sank low in my chair. I knew my place in the class food chain and I was right at the bottom. I tried to hide as far in my chair as I could go. As the names grew more playful I sank further into my chair until I was practically on the floor.
“The ugliest has to be Diana,” one of the boys said.
Their laughter was cut short by something slamming hard across the table followed by the definite roar of my teacher, Mrs. Clark, “Stop it! Stop it all of you! Disgraceful! Disrespectful! I thought you’d never stoop so low!”

She flew across the room toward the boys her face redder than the kiln. She extended a long wagging finger, brow furrowed, and shoulders arched.

“You know what’s ugly?!” she shouted face to face with the young boy. “Every one of you! How dare you bully her! I should have you marched straight up to the principal’s office if I weren’t so disgusted!”

Then tears began to form in her eyes and I realized it was no longer about me, the bully had brought back something painful from her past.

“Its kids like you that disrupt dreams, wreck lives, and destroy creativity! You are a disgrace! A disgrace! Now I want you to apologize to her and then get out! Get out! I don’t ever want to see you here again because you don’t deserve art!” she continued pointing to the door.

“Sorry,” the boy swallowed hard and he gathered his things and ran out.

Mrs. Clark slammed the door behind him her lip puckered. She tried to hold back the tears.

“That…” she began, but her voice broke and she shook her finger at the door, “that is what ugliness is. A bully. A thief. Never be that! If you become that you destroy the dreamers of the future they who hope to be better than they are. Diana, are you okay?”

I had no words to speak. I was astounded and nodded a simple yes. Mrs. Clark tented her tears and turned her back to the class. It was through art I learned to express myself and I continue to do so today. There are still some things I need to fix about myself and lets face it we all do, but my nose isn't one of those things.