My parents didn’t really allow me to eat junk food growing up, especially things like chips and soda. Every time we went to BJs or Costco we would roll right past those sections and only got what we needed like cleaning supplies and other things. With snacks seemingly so out of reach, it only made my cravings for it stronger. At school almost every kid had their own snacks. They would whip out their little bags of Lays and Doritos and chow it down. I never brought anything because I didn’t have any to bring. Sometimes I would be lucky to have a bag of grapes or carrots.

The kids would share their snacks. It was cool, they were really nice and gave me chips. I started asking more and didn’t really know that it was rude to keep asking. They always gave, so I thought it was okay. In fourth grade, I learned it wasn’t okay.

I was called into the school office. I didn’t know why; I didn’t do anything wrong, I was on top of my school work, and didn’t fight with anyone. When I got there, I saw one of my classmates with her mom. The school lady explained to me that I had been asking my classmate a lot for food and she didn’t like it. I understood, but before I could say anything her mom came up to my face and started yelling at me.

“Why do you keep asking my daughter for food? It’s rude. You ask her so much. Do you not have food? Do your parents not feed you?”

I was shaken up and wanted to explain that I didn’t mean to be rude. Her daughter offered, so I took. Sometimes I was hungry and wanted a tasty chip to satiate it.

“Don’t ask my daughter for anything, anymore! If you’re hungry, get your own food. Get your own snacks.”

For a long time after that incident, I never asked anyone for anything; snacks, drinks, pencils. I was embarrassed. I didn’t want people thinking that I was poor or mistreated at home.