Everyone laughed when I walked into prom holding Elliot\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she bring her little brother?\u201d someone shouted. Another joked, \u201cLooks like one and a half people showed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elliot has achondroplasia, but to me, he has always been kind, funny, and the person who makes me feel loved. For years, classmates mocked him because of his height, ignoring the amazing person he was.<\/p>\n
That night, the jokes got worse. I wanted to leave, but Elliot took my hand and led me onto the dance floor.<\/p>\n
Then someone yelled, \u201cMaybe she should pick him up and dance with him like a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was ready to walk out when Mrs. Parker, our math teacher, stopped the music and called us onto the stage.<\/p>\n
She looked at the crowd and said, \u201cFor two years, many of you have judged Elliot without knowing who he really is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then she revealed that Elliot had spent the year tutoring younger students and was receiving the school\u2019s Heart of the School Award for kindness and character.<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
The same people who laughed moments earlier were now embarrassed.<\/p>\n
Elliot took the microphone and said, \u201cI\u2019m still the same person I was before tonight. The only difference is now you\u2019re paying attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when we returned to the dance floor, nobody laughed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Everyone laughed when I walked into prom holding Elliot\u2019s hand. \u201cDid she bring her little brother?\u201d someone shouted. Another joked, \u201cLooks like one and a half people showed up.\u201d Elliot has achondroplasia, but to me, he has always been kind, funny, and the person who makes me feel loved. For years, classmates mocked him because…<\/p>\n