Growing up in the midst of grown ups made me a lot of things. I was very calm and obedient to a large extent. My mum made sure that I gave due respect to my siblings because none of them is within my age range. Although we had moments when we would argue and disagree but in the end,I was always made to apologize(90% of the time) This was the norm when I clocked age 7 and afterwards. It was a bit difficult adjusting to this regime because at the age of 4-6, if any of my siblings offended me, I would threaten them with the popular phrase, "I'll tell mummy for you". Mummy was my defender (still is) lol! But she made me realize something important which I still cherish till now. She would say, "leave them alone, stay on your own" Sometimes you just have to be on your own. This calmness and respect for my seniors became very dominant in my character and it also reflected in my relationship with friends at school.

My classmates were the closest to my age and this made me cling to my friends among them. Going to school everyday was fun because I would be with people who understood what it was to be 7/8 years old. It then became evident to my friends that I was the "soft" type. I was quick to apologize and quick to tears. As typical humans would be, they took advantage.

At age 7, I was in primary 2 while my sister was 15 in SS2. We were pretty close but not as close as we were when I was a toddler. It was as if I was now "cramping her style". We attended the same school although I was in the primary school section while she was in the secondary school. My best friend then, Winifred, would do things to make me sad and she'd say things like, "I will not play with you again". Those words broke me. I would apologize but she wouldn't accept my apologies. Then I would go to the secondary school during break time to report her to my sister. I would tell her everything that transpired between myself and Winifred then she would summon her and tell her not to be angry with me if I was at fault or she would be told to apologize if she was at fault. Case closed. This went on till my sister graduated and I was made to change schools. Now it was just me. No one to solicit for me.

This time, I found myself in a bigger school. I had more classmates than before and I was alone. I survived my first year here and I became better at conflict management. My mum had to lecture me about friendship. She said, "friendship is not by force. If they don't want to play with you, leave them alone..." And I thought to myself, "if I leave them alone, who will play with me?" But I was to learn a big lesson there after that nobody cares if you're the last born in your house. You have to "man up" in your dealings with people. Friends who want to stay, will stay. You cannot force anyone to be with you. And most importantly, friendship is really not by force.