I’m currently in college, but there’s a school incident that still bothers me and I’d like an outside perspective.
In school, I was deeply involved in student leadership. I served as a House Captain (third-highest post in the student council), and positions were officially awarded based on merit and contribution. Traditionally, the most accomplished students became School Captain and Vice Captain.
For five years, I worked toward those roles. I had 90+ board marks, was President of the Business Club, Debate Club, and MUN Club, and was active in the Social Service Club. I genuinely believed I had a strong chance. However, the top posts were given to two students with significantly fewer achievements. Even teachers acknowledged the unfairness and consoled me afterward, but I never received a clear explanation.
Around this time, leadership roles became competitive and I had conflicts with former friends. Three students began spreading rumors about me. As President, I falsely reported to teachers that they had spoken badly about teachers. The administration removed them from societies for “discipline” and “lack of contribution.”
Those three were part of a larger 15-20 student “cool crowd” that already disliked me. Afterward, the entire group turned against me and harassed me socially and verbally throughout Grade 12.
At our annual sports event, I was supposed to march as House Captain but had a serious ankle sprain. They accused me of faking it, which led several teachers to be angry with me. By then, college decisions were out, none of them had gotten into their ED/EA or target universities. Out of four House Captains, three were from this group.
At a breaking point, I went to school, showed my visibly swollen ankle to students and teachers, and said, angrily and publicly
“At least I’m not a disappointment to my parents for being rejected from all universities and ending up worthless like you.”
This was said in front of 100+ students. They were furious but said nothing, and the incident was never mentioned again (likely because their rejections were private).
Today, I’m at a much better university than any of them. I’m doing well, but I still think about how public and humiliating my comment was and whether I crossed a line.
So, AITA for saying what I said after months of harassment and unfair treatment?
Edit: Guys I think most of y’all aren’t getting the context. My achievements/grades were provided to justify my captainship. It isn’t related to the friend group.
The group of friends hated me since grade 11. That was because of the ongoing conflicts in school to become the ‘best junior’ or the most promising upcoming student to become captain. They also wanted the posts. They didn’t get it. I’m not trying to say I’m superior, and I never showed it as well after we got the posts. But they didn’t seem to like the fact that I had gotten the posts. They wanted someone from their group of friends to get the highest posts. This resulted in harassment.
Everything I did was a reaction to this. I wanted to know if the statement I said crossed a line AFTER ALL THIS or not.