Story time!
Throughout my middle school days at Erwine, I had a teacher who impacted me in more than just my love of science; this teacher reminded me quite often during my three years in that building, that I have a mole on my eyelid. For a teacher who disected owl pellets every year with students, you'd think that would gross her out, but no, it was moles. She was such a cool teacher, and I remember telling her how much I wanted to be a science teacher because of her. While I praised her and said how awesome she was, she was there to remind me that I can use eyeliner on my eyes or "wear makeup to cover it". I started wearing makeup because of her, and although I think I'm okay without it, too, I still have that anxiety and think of her when I'm not wearing it. Don't get me wrong, I also wear it because I enjoy it now for sure, but now that I'm an adult, I can definitely say we don't know how our words really can impact not only children/adolescence, but even other adults. Words are powerful.