Yeah my time in middle school was very cherished. I got to do so many cool extracurricular activities, and finally had enough know-how to start teaching myself

Yeah my time in middle school was very cherished. I got to do so many cool extracurricular activities, and finally had enough know-how to start teaching myself stuff. I learned to play chess from a high ranked player, I started teaching myself python, I learned 3D drafting basics, played soccer, learned to skate, etc etc. I was finally given enough leash to do those things, and to hangout with friends outside of school, including overnight. I got to go on soccer trips and stuff with my traveling team. My parents never went on those trips so I'd always be driven/housed by someone else and got to see what normal people were actually like. I finally realized how off my parents were, and how verbally and emotionally abusive and unfair they could be, so I started seeking out extracurriculars at every opportunity which was awesome. For some reason, hardly any of the guys were actually talking to the girls, so I had free reign and no competition flirting and cutting my teeth on male-female relationships. There were also plenty of opportunities to learn to deal with bullies and stuff. I even look back on those fondly. ("Cool-kid" bully once sucker-punched me straight in the jaw as hard as he could in front of a bunch of people, and instead of reacting how he wanted I just calmly looked at him like he'd tapped me on the shoulder said "Can I help you, Travis?". He backed down in a hurry.) I don't know man, but I loved middle school. I just hated how I was treated by my parents, but I didn't realize until later that they had a lot of unresolved mental health problems, and that it wasn't my fault. Also, I don't look fondly on the random boners. I had to wear suit pants all the time for band performances and let me tell you, those don't hide anything.