It started with a simple GRWM when I was maybe 10 or 11. My mom, who’s an influencer herself (shoutout Kat Clark!), posted a TikTok of her braiding my hair before school.
Before long, filming those vids became our little morning ritual: me in the chair making jokes, her standing behind me trying to get me to sit still and both of us constantly cracking up.
I’m not sure if it caught on because of the cute style ideas (my mom can do everything from plaits to the perfect slickback pony) or our relatable banter, but the videos started going viral.
At first, it was awesome to see how much people loved watching us just goof around together as mother and daughter. But once I started high school (which for us Aussies begins in seventh grade), that all changed.
Before I went to school or sports practice (I played Oztag when I was younger, IYKYK), I’d get this nervous, fidgety feeling. Some of it was the normal anxiety of walking into a room full of strangers or trying to find a seat in the cafeteria.
But there was another layer, too. No one else I knew in Australia was sharing so much of their life on the internet. The kids at my school weren’t used to seeing someone put themselves out there like that, and they let me know it. I got made fun of—a lot.
They’d mock everything I did online—my dancing, my family, even my personality— simply because they didn’t understand it. They’d make rude comments about what my mom or I posted, probably hoping to get a big reaction. One time, they even messed with the electric bike I rode to school, breaking the light on the handlebar and stuffing trash into my helmet.
Suddenly, the moments I had once loved sharing with the world were being used against me. It felt awful, but those bullies didn’t actually know me—they just saw one tiny part of my life on their screens.
I never said anything back. Instead, I did my best to ignore them. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse.
I ended up switching out of traditional school the following year, mostly because my TikTok started taking off and I was traveling all over to make content with my fam- ily. I was homeschooled for a bit but then traded that for online school.
On one hand, I was relieved to get away from the kids who were picking on me. At the same time, it was difficult to adapt to a whole new routine.
Even though I gave up the “normal” high school experience, that part of my life taught me so much. And while I hope you never have to deal with bullying, chances are you’ll face some of the same nerves and uncertainty that come with starting a brand new school year.
On the Basically Besties podcast, which I co-host with my mom and older sister (who are literally my closest confidants), we do advice segments where we respond to listener questions. Hearing about other teens’ similar struggles made me realize that back-to-school anxiety is totally normal—and somehow, that makes it feel a little less overwhelming.
So whether it’s just jitters or something more intense, here’s my biggest piece of advice for getting through it all: Focus on finding the people who truly matter.
Yes, it’s scary to walk into a classroom where you don’t know anyone, but it’s worth making an effort to be friendly. If you’re willing to smile and introduce yourself, I’ve found that there’s almost always someone who says, “Come sit with me at lunch.” And meeting that first kind person can make all the difference—it opens the door and gives you confidence.
Nowadays, I’m lucky enough to have people around me who aren’t bothered by the fact that I share my life online. My BFFs and I go to the beach, play mermaids, snorkel and make videos together, not caring about who might be watching. And the funny thing? I met those people by doing exactly what those kids used to tease me for: putting myself out there.
Because I know I have a strong support system—my family and friends who accept me exactly as I am—I don’t let the haters get to me anymore, whether they’re online or in real life. I try not to overthink it.
At the end of the day, there will always be people who don’t appreciate you for who you are. But there also will always be people who love you for it, too.
Psst: Deja just dropped her new fall collection with Aeropostale, which includes 71 styles (and prices starting at $19.95). It’s available exclusively via the Aeropostale app today and tomorrow before debuting online and in stores on July 18!
Hey, girl! Just to let you know, this originally ran in our August/September 2026 issue. Read our print mag for *free* today when you click HERE!
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By Deja Clark, 15 as told to Madelon Basil.
Photos courtesy of Aeropostale.
