Happiness Right Next Door || A Colleen Ballinger Neighbor Story

Meet Me :)

            I've never been too much of a people person. From a very young age the thought of social interaction gave me extreme anxiety. I struggled in school from the moment I was enrolled in Kindergarten. Right away my family and teachers noticed something different in me, other children my age were overjoyed with their relationships and began friendships that seemed would last a lifetime. My teacher reached out to my mom; my dad had committed suicide when I was around 2 years old so I never really knew him. My teacher informed my mom that I struggled with socializing with other kids in my class and suggested that homeschooling would be the best route for me. However, my mom's busy schedule would limit her time away from me so homeschooling was out of the question. I had to face my anxiety and depression and stay enrolled in school. However, I was very smart academically wise. While other kids were running around on the playground I would always locate myself under a big oak tree I had claimed as my own where I could read and let my real life slip away from me. After a few years passed my anxiety and depression became even stronger. I was in a very dark state at only 8 years old. My mom didn't care about me at all, she was so focused in her work that whenever I was home it felt as if I was just a pest being brushed off her shoulder. I felt invisible. School was no escape for me. Kids constantly made fun of me, "No one likes an outcast". I felt as if my life had no point. The one thing I wanted to know was that someone did care for me, but I never got that from absolutely anyone. As I mentioned I did succeed well in school so while other kids had finished their work my 2nd grade teacher allowed me to hop on a computer for free time. Usually I would live my best life playing Club Penguin, however, one day I decided to go on YouTube. My mom always believed that YouTube was just a dumb website where stupid people would post failed stunt videos and cat videos. She decided that YouTube was banned in our little house. As my stomach turned and hands shook out of fear I pulled up YouTube. I had no clue what to expect as I had only heard horror stories about this website from my mom. Although, I heard many kids in my class talk about how wonderful YouTube is. My curiosity took over me. There it was on my screen... YouTube. In my recommend I found a user "MirandaSings08" I didn't know what the point of her channel was. This Miranda girl seemed as though she was the best singer in the world. I didn't know if she was for real or not. My young mind believed that she was just a unique girl trying to succeed on YouTube while sharing her talents. Little did I know that, that "unique girl" would one day save my life. Hi my name is Avery, and this is my story with Colleen Ballinger.

( AUTHORS NOTE )

Hi! Thanks for reading! I've never shared any of my stories before, but I decided that this could be a good start :) I know I'm not the best author... although I can't wait to improve :) Have a great day!