is it really worth it to have a talent that makes people dislike you?

Question

Since i was 5 years old i have dedicated all my time to basketball. I have had personal coaches paid by my parents & have won at the national level at many ages. My high school team won state championship last year. I am ranked at the top 50 at the highschool level even though i am a freshman, & am considered a child prodigy since the age of 12. The problem is that people feel intimidated by my presence & i dont know what to do. My only friends are some of my teammates Whenever i walk into a room, like the cafeteria, people stare at me. I started taking mixed martial arts 1 year ago because Older guys than me always want to start fights & try to beat me up. As a result I have been suspended from my schools 3 times. The principle told me if it happens again, i will be expelled from the school. I dont know why they pick on me so much. It's not like i am cocky,could anyone give me some good advice?

to those who are saying so; i dont get picked on for my size. I am only 6-4, 212 pounds.
Also to those who are saying that I am lying or to full of myself; why would i lie in a yahoo thing where i know noone & will not get anything out of lying?

I want to make it clear that all that boring story was so whoever read this could understand my full situation.

for the last time, i am not cocky. to be a point guard you have to be unselfish, so if I was cocky my teammates would not listen to my playcalling or one on one advice!

Answer 1

Don't get into the fights. Just stay away from all that as much as you can and you'll be better off. Aside from that, people are going to be jealous of you, but you can't sell yourself short to make other people like you. If you really are great, show it and live up to your potential and just continue to work hard at it. People are going to respect you for how much you can accomplish, but just don't have a big head about it too much. Be humble and just focus on doing what you do best, on the court.

Answer 2

you do sound a bit cocky but you might have good reason to be if you have worked at this all your life so far. I'd read your question back you do seem to rank yourself highly and maybe thats what puts people off. They dont want some friend who loves themselves and only talks about basketball. Dont get into fights. Its bad all round. Earn respect from those who you would like to be friends with by being down to earth rather than a "prodigy". if they dont want to know they probs arnt worth knowing. maybe sticking with your basketball team mates may be the only ones who understand you right now.

Answer 3

You're lucky to have such an amazing talent...never second guess the value of that. The only reason people stare is because they think you're cool. They're mesmerized by you. As far as the guys who want to beat you up...they're just jealous because they're most likely losers. One thing you learn in martial arts is to always walk away from a fight. You're supposed to use your fighting skills only if absolutely necessary...yes, you need to defend yourself, but you can't get kicked out of school because some idiot wants to fight you! Maybe that's why they're starting with you. Maybe they want you to be expelled so they don't have to feel inferior to you all the time. You know who your real friends are...and there's nothing wrong with only having a few close friends. At least you have them! Just be nice and friendly with everyone. The only reason they may not like you is because they're jealous or feel intimidated. Don't let it bother you. Keep your head held high and good luck with your talent!

Answer 4

Kid, you are talented! what you have is a gift but you have alot of responsibility to take care of it. If you're always being brought into fights, explain it to your principle, probably he would understand. Tell your coach as well, he'll help watch over you. Since you're a freshman, people will tend to think less of you. prove them wrong by showing true sportsmanship. As you get to higher levels, you'll be less bullied. don't be intimidated or offended. Those people are just envious, have no brains, and have nothing else better to do. Avoid them. Get better friends. Most of all, don't forget your grades:)

Answer 5

They are just jealous of you!!! You have so much going for you now, I'm sure you will be given a scholarship for college and maybe be able to make a high paying career playing basketball.. but getting expelled could jeopardize that. You only have 3 more years of high school and all that hard work will surely pay off after that. These people want to see you fail because they are jealous. Don't let them win.

Answer 6

I had a friend in highschool who was considered a child prodigy at basketball, football, and running in track. He broke almost every record at school. Everyone liked him because he wasn't cocky about it and didn't brag about it. Obviously you're doing something to piss people off. Just act like you're a normal person outside of the basketball court.

Answer 7

"........I have had personal coaches paid by my parents & have won at the national level at many ages. My high school team won state championship last year. I am ranked at the top 50 at the highschool level even though i am a freshman, & am considered a child prodigy since the age of 12........."

"...It's not like i am cocky,...."


Really???

Answer 8

It could be jealousy, or they could feel threatened by your age and talent.

I'm sorry that you are having a difficult time, and I hope for your sake that you are not cocky... No one likes cocky athletes!

I do think that you should focus on school in general though. Basketball is NOT everything.... If some day you discover that you cannot play due to an injury.. you will be devastated. It is always best to have education as your back-up!

Best of luck!

Answer 9

If these people really don't like you because you're good at basketball, than they're being stupid. But if I were you, I'd just walk away from the fights, and don't retaliate. Yeah, you might get a reputation around the school for being a "wimp" - but in my own experience, some people will really start to admire you for not sinking down to their level.

To answer your question, yeah, I think it's still worth it to have a talent... you can go places with those skills.. get an education, and have opportunities open to you.

Answer 10

i think that one of the first things you can do at the beginning of this school year is set up and appointment with the school's guidance counselor...

before any of the fights start and others begin picking on you, you need to let the guidance counselor know that you had problems with older kids picking on you (because of your size, i take it?). Let him know what the principal said last year about being expelled if it happens again. Tell the counselor that you don't pick fights, are striving to work on your basketball and martial arts skills, and your focus isn't on harming others.

you can tell the counselor that at the time of these past fights, you had no choice because they started it, and you were protecting yourself. let him know that if others pick at and start fights with you, you're not just going to stand there and take it.

ask him what he thinks YOU can do in order to remain in school, even if these people continue to pick fights? see if he has some good suggestions.

you may also want to talk with your parents, as well. maybe they can meet with the school principal at the start of the school year, and discuss this...

i'm sure these kids pick on you because you are bigger than the average person of your age? I've heard of this happening before.

you need to protect yourself and i think you and your parents could start by talking with those who are in charge at the school. this will make them aware of the problem, and hopefully they can offer you help and support.

take care.