Article July 25, 2005 Issue

Melting the fog of judgmental thoughts

By Robin Hoagland

OUR DAUGHTER GIGGLES good-naturedly as she tells this story on herself. It was the last inter-league competition of the year for her high-school math team. The final rounds had been completed, individual and team scores tallied, and the awards ceremony was about to begin.

Heading toward the auditorium, Elissa overheard a flippant "Who's the dumb blond?" from a couple of boys as she walked by.

Suddenly self-conscious, thoroughly flustered, and overly anxious to escape this unwanted attention, she hurried toward the door at the end of the hall. She pulled and pulled on the door as hard as she could, but it wouldn't open. Behind her, the boys hooted with laughter.