A young TikToker has shared a heartbreaking admission about going to school.
Posting a simple clip of her troubled face, the text over it reads: “Please never send your kid to a rich school if you’re not rich. It will ruin them.”
The caption says: “I’m grateful to get a good education but it’s so difficult to be in a environment where you don’t fit in.”
The short but impactful video has been liked more than a million times, and attracted 3.5k comments, with so many sharing similar experiences.
The girl later added to the comments section, “I feel so seen that this video blew up and people relate.”
It’s a devastating, but also at times inspiring, thread, about what’s sadly impacted so many childhoods – despite so many parents trying their best.
“I was bullied for wearing the same shoes in P.E.”
Thousands identified as the ‘not rich kid in a rich school.’
-“The kids are out of touch with reality. I was bullied for using the same pair of shoes for P.E. as every day.”
-“I graduated from a private school. My parents spent all their savings and earnings on my education BUT STILL…. the worst part was comparing yourself to them.”
-“I was always asked where we were going on holidays. Um, nowhere?”
Students’ mobile phones were also a topic, with many saying they were questioned, “Why are you using an android?”
And the scrutiny was real, as this person shared, “This was me in high school and I never invited anybody over, and when I did invite one girl over she looked at my duplex house and went ‘Ohh that makes sense!’ Like, what?!”
But their feeling of not belonging did not go unnoticed by some who were compassionate, even as high schoolers.
“As someone who grew up rich in rich schools witnessing people who aren’t rich getting left out, then and bullied, broke my heart,” said one viewer.
Amongst the thousands of comments, so many were sad, but this one particularly so: “The pressure to do good in grades knowing your parents are working so hard for you to be there – it almost ended me.”
“I’m motivated to be rich”
Amongst the trauma, some viewers were able to see some positives, such as this person, who wrote: “It ruined my teenage years but now I always have the motivation to become rich so I don’t let my future kids go through what I’ve gone through.”
Another agreed: “My parents did this. Best thing they could have done, I was given so many opportunities and learned life lessons about the life I wish to achieve.”
Next, there was this inspiring perspective: “I went to school with rich kids while being poor and I think it was good for me. It builds character. And it makes you comfortable around wealth so you’re not impressed by it.
“I’m still not rich but I can socialize with wealthy people without being uncomfortable or awkward moments. It has helped me a lot in my career — it also helps you network. Make the most of the opportunity you have.”
This viewer agreed, and advised parents: “Send them regardless, they’ll learn a new perspective and make contacts probably. And if they don’t make contacts, they’ll learn how to. Everyone suffers, make it worth it.”
Finally, this former private school student expressed a sentiment that resonated with most: “It’s a terrible experience but I’ll ALWAYS be grateful. No parent sends you to school to hurt you, they just want the best.”
