By: Kevin Nguyen
When thinking back on my memories in middle school, I remember all of the fun and joy I experienced. But it was quite the opposite for Eduardo Sagastume, also known as Lalo. Lalo was bullied in primary and elementary school because of his weight, which lead to unhealthy habits. This experience would end up changing his life forever.
Lalo thought to himself Why did this happen to me, like what did I do to deserve this?
Lalo went to McKinley Elementary School and Bridges Academy. Everyday he went to school, he was made fun of. It got to the point where he did not feel safe at school. Lalo would look forward to going home. He played video games to escape everything he was dealing with. Online, he felt that he was safe, that no one would judge him.
There was no one for Lalo to talk to about what was happening. He opened up to his dogs, they would listen, and wouldn’t judge him. “My dogs were there for me when there was no one,” Lalo said, “They wouldn’t judge me for anything.”
When Lalo was asked for a good memory from primary school, he couldn’t think of one. Something that Lalo would always remember, was when he was getting his weight and height measured, his peers would guess how much he weighed as a game. This would continue throughout all of middle school.
Once Lalo regained control of his life during the beginning of high school, it would change. “I used to stress eat, and that’s when I almost got 300 pounds, I was the biggest I was ever,” he said. “And I got control of my life, and I lost 70.”
His freshman year at Yerba Buena, Lalo met a group of people that he felt at home with. This would soon become the group of friends that he would hang out with everyday.
“When I’m with the boys it’s completely different, they were the first group of friends that wouldn’t judge me for shit.”
After what had happened in primary school, Lalo closed himself off, and only now only hangs out with certain people. He also because mentally stronger, and could deal with problems in a more positive way. Such as making or listening to music. This experience would be something Lalo would never forget.
When thinking back on my memories in middle school, I remember all of the fun and joy I experienced. But it was quite the opposite for Eduardo Sagastume, also known as Lalo. Lalo was bullied in primary and elementary school because of his weight, which lead to unhealthy habits. This experience would end up changing his life forever.
Lalo thought to himself Why did this happen to me, like what did I do to deserve this?
Lalo went to McKinley Elementary School and Bridges Academy. Everyday he went to school, he was made fun of. It got to the point where he did not feel safe at school. Lalo would look forward to going home. He played video games to escape everything he was dealing with. Online, he felt that he was safe, that no one would judge him.
There was no one for Lalo to talk to about what was happening. He opened up to his dogs, they would listen, and wouldn’t judge him. “My dogs were there for me when there was no one,” Lalo said, “They wouldn’t judge me for anything.”
When Lalo was asked for a good memory from primary school, he couldn’t think of one. Something that Lalo would always remember, was when he was getting his weight and height measured, his peers would guess how much he weighed as a game. This would continue throughout all of middle school.
Once Lalo regained control of his life during the beginning of high school, it would change. “I used to stress eat, and that’s when I almost got 300 pounds, I was the biggest I was ever,” he said. “And I got control of my life, and I lost 70.”
His freshman year at Yerba Buena, Lalo met a group of people that he felt at home with. This would soon become the group of friends that he would hang out with everyday.
“When I’m with the boys it’s completely different, they were the first group of friends that wouldn’t judge me for shit.”
After what had happened in primary school, Lalo closed himself off, and only now only hangs out with certain people. He also because mentally stronger, and could deal with problems in a more positive way. Such as making or listening to music. This experience would be something Lalo would never forget.