Thirteen

Summary

In this engaging video by YAPTV, we dive into the chaotic world of middle school through the eyes of a teenage girl named Caroline. Her family unexpectedly relocates, uprooting her life just as she was getting comfortable in her old school. Caroline finds herself trying to fit in at a new school, dealing with bullies, navigating awkward social situations, and figuring out who she wants to be friends with. The video humorously explores themes of popularity, bullying, courage, and the complex nature of teenage friendships.

Highlights

• Caroline moves from Winnipeg to Vancouver mid-school year and faces the challenge of fitting in. 🌆
• Her mom suggests joining clubs, which Caroline reluctantly tries with hilarious results. 🤣
• Caroline navigates the tricky waters of making friends and dealing with bullies. 🤨
• The anti-bullying club at school struggles with participation but aims to make a difference. 📚
• Caroline realizes that courage is infectious and takes a chance on friendship. 😊

Key Takeaways

• Moving can be tough, but it's an opportunity to reinvent yourself. 🌟
• Middle school drama is universal and hilariously confusing. 😂
• Courage can be contagious, inspiring others to stand up too! 💪
• Finding true friends involves trials, errors, and awkward moments. 🤝
• Bullying is complicated, but standing up makes a difference. 🚫

Overview

Thank goodness December is over, Caroline Danes thinks, as she starts her new life in Vancouver. Leaving Winnipeg without saying goodbye to her friends feels like December’s cruelest act. Her mom’s optimism about the family and school can’t shake her feeling of being disoriented. The usual middle-school maze of cliques and classes is amplified by her need to find her footing halfway through the year, complete with trying and rejecting clubs and the awkward first-day introductions.

As Caroline grapples with finding friends and avoiding bullies, she discovers the chess club, debates, and even the less prestigious rock-paper-scissors assemblage. There's Hailey, who tries to befriend her with over-the-top friendliness and an invitation to watch ‘Coraline’. Social hierarchy battles, dodgeball mishaps, and hallway bullies add texture to her new life, exemplifying the emotional rollercoaster of teenage life. But the real challenge lies in sticking to who she is while everyone tries to categorize her into something she's not.

In the end, courage finds a way into Caroline's story. Encouraged by examples of bravery, from Hailey's candidacy for treasurer to standing up against bullies, Caroline recognizes her own strength. Simple acts, like volunteering for the anti-bullying committee, become powerful symbols of resistance to fear and conformity. Her initial reluctance gives way to a realization that middle school is as much about discovering yourself as it about surviving. Taking the leap, Caroline learns sometimes, yes, the days are awkward, but courage is indeed contagious.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:01: Moving to a New City The narrator expresses relief that December has ended, describing it as the worst month of their life due to an unexpected family move from Winnipeg to Vancouver caused by their dad's job change. The sudden move prevented the narrator from saying goodbye to friends. Additionally, the narrator reflects on having the worst Christmas ever, feeling frustrated by their mom's constant positivity.
• 00:01 - 00:03: Struggles at the New School The chapter titled 'Struggles at the New School' revolves around the protagonist's challenges in adapting to a new school setting. Despite encouragement from family members about making new friends, the protagonist feels the difficulty of fitting in, especially having joined the school mid-year when social dynamics and class schedules are already in place.
• 00:03 - 00:06: Joining Clubs A new student, Carolyn Cooper, is introduced and welcomed to the class. As the students are asked to take out their textbooks and prepare for a lesson on elements and compounds, Carolyn reflects on her past experiences. She has never had to actively make friends or fit in, as it happened naturally for her in her previous school. This chapter explores the theme of adapting to new environments and the social challenges that come with starting at a new school.
• 00:06 - 00:09: First Day Experiences In this chapter titled 'First Day Experiences', the narrator reflects on their initial feelings of being in a new environment despite being popular previously. Their mother suggests joining clubs to adapt, even though clubs have already begun. Amidst their insecurities about starting at a new school, the narrator takes their mother's advice.
• 00:09 - 00:12: The Bully Report The protagonist, feeling apprehensive about joining new activities during the school year, explores different extracurricular options. Initially, they attempt the debate team but find it intimidating. Subsequently, they join the dodgeball team, which proves to be even more frightening.
• 00:12 - 00:15: Oral Presentation Day The chapter 'Oral Presentation Day' revolves around the narrator's contemplation of joining a club to regain popularity. Despite considering the chess club due to its availability, the narrator finds the idea intimidating and ultimately decides to let popularity come naturally instead of forcing the issue through club participation.
• 00:15 - 00:18: Friendships and Courage In this chapter, titled 'Friendships and Courage,' the protagonist navigates the complexities of building friendships. They encounter a fellow student at the chess club, sparking a conversation about participating in club activities. Although unsure about their interest in chess, they learn about alternative games like Chinese Checkers. The protagonist meets Jasmine, a remarkably skilled player, and feels a sense of awe at her abilities. Ultimately, the chapter emphasizes the protagonist's efforts to reach out and make new friends, highlighting themes of connection and stepping out of one's comfort zone.
• 00:18 - 00:21: Standing Up to Bullies Caroline talks about her love for the movie Coraline, describing it as her all-time favorite. She recounts the movie's plot involving a door to an alternate universe where her parents become button-eyed zombies. Another character mentions they haven't seen the movie, prompting Caroline to invite them to watch it together at her house or borrow the DVD.
• 00:21 - 00:23: Observations on Courage In this chapter titled 'Observations on Courage', the narrator reflects on past experiences of humiliation at school, drawing a parallel between a girl named Breanna Fry from an old school and the current environment where humiliation persists. The setting seems to involve a school where facing and overcoming social challenges, like walking down the A wing during lunch or handling situations in sports like dodgeball, highlight acts of courage and resilience. The interaction between characters suggests instances requiring bravery, such as Hailey reminding the narrator of Breanna, and the mention of Leo's dodgeball skills, supported by Simon, illustrates moments of standing up to challenges.
• 00:23 - 00:38: Ending and Reflection The chapter titled 'Ending and Reflection' captures a scene of schoolyard bullies, highlighting the contrast between their behavior with peers and adults. It opens with the bullies joyfully tormenting others and a brief moment of faux politeness with a teacher, Mr. Jacobs, showcasing their hypocrisy. Despite their aggressive behavior, no one challenges them, implicitly critiquing the cowardice or apathy of bystanders. The chapter closes with a light-hearted exchange involving a Starbucks gift card, juxtaposing the superficiality of such interactions against the underlying tension of bullying.

Thirteen Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Thank God December is over worst month of my life My dad had to change jobs, and so without any warning our whole family had to move from winnipeg to Vancouver I Didn't even get to say goodbye to my friends at school. If that wasn't bad enough Christmas was the worst ever But my mom has this amazing way of putting a positive spin on everything that drives me totally insane
• 00:30 - 01:00 You are gonna make so many friends at your new school She thinks this is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as a family As if starting a new school wasn't hard enough? I had to do it in the middle of the year when everything's already established what classes you have who your friends are...
• 01:00 - 01:30 Even what desk you sit at we have a new student welcome Carolyn Cooper Caroline Okay, can you all please take out your textbooks you should have read chapter seven over the break on elements and compounds I Never had to try to make friends before I always just had them I never had to try to fit in I just did at my old school
• 01:30 - 02:00 I was actually pretty popular, so all this new stuff felt weird and Of course my mom had a wonderfully positive suggestion for me join clubs It's January they've started already I'll be fine Let me talk to the principal for you know I was feeling so insecure about the school new school thing and I actually took her advice
• 02:00 - 02:30 Which I never do I Tried the debate team first But that was kind of scary the only sports team I was able to join this late in the year was dodgeball But that was even scarier
• 02:30 - 03:00 So my only option was the chess club which had lots of openings But that was scary in its own way, too So I decided joining clubs wasn't the right way to go to recapture my popularity. I would just have to let it happen naturally
• 03:00 - 03:30 Forcing it might make me seem desperate and we all know nobody likes desperate Hi. Hi. I saw you in chess club yesterday. Yeah, right. Are you coming back tomorrow? I'm not sure chess with my thing Well, that's cool. You can play Chinese Checkers as well. This is one girl. Jasmine. She's so good at Chinese Checkers She's not even chinese one time she jumped 8 of my marbles in one move Wow, that's a lot. I figured that you don't have any friends yet, so I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Hailey
• 03:30 - 04:00 Caroline oh, I love that movie coraline it's like my five-star favorite of all-time She finds this door in her room that leads to this alternate universe where her parents are these button-eyed zombies. I so related to that Actually, I never saw it. Oh I'll bring my DVD tomorrow You can borrow it unless you want to go to my house and watch it
• 04:00 - 04:30 That was close Hailey reminds me of this girl from my old school Breanna fry she used to get humiliated so bad humiliation seemed alive and well at this school too, especially for those who had to walk down the A wing at lunch. Nice dodge ball skills yesterday Little Leo. Yeah Simon. Anytime.
• 04:30 - 05:00 Sweet how about right now? Yeah real funny. This is even more fun with garbage. Nailed him again! nobody seemed brave enough to stand up to these jerks And they were such suck ups when ever a teacher walked by. oh hi, Mr.. Jacobs. How was your morning? Hey? Just great Simon. How about you? tip-top as usual. did you use that Starbucks gift card I gave you this Christmas
• 05:00 - 05:30 I sure did you know how I love those eggnog lattes anything for my favorite teacher Hey, say, hi to your mom for me. Will do. But as soon as the teacher was gone, oh little Leo What's he gonna do now? come on Leo you can't miss me now. That's what I thought. See you in gym.
• 05:30 - 06:00 I made an important discovery today. I figured out who I want to be friends with They reminded me of my old friends confident pretty popular Did you guys get my text yeah skirt with tights tomorrow and sporty cute on Friday. I thought we did sporty cute Monday. That was sporty prep. I have to go shopping
• 06:00 - 06:30 Oh, there's a new JamNation coming to the mall. We should so go to the opening. Yeah, I bet they need models We could get free clothes. That would be fresh. Another thing I like about them is that they don't put up with the morons in the hall Princess Protection program Why don't you math club rejects go buy yourself some deodorant? Yeah.
• 06:30 - 07:00 And these guys were the worst at comebacks. Well we would but we don't know where the store is. But despite their bully exterior. I could tell they weren't quite as confident on the inside because the next day I'm Pretty sure they were both wearing deodorant. It was actually a big improvement
• 07:00 - 07:30 Still I had to figure out a way to become friends with these girls Hey guys Hey You're that new girl right? Yeah, Carolyn. What's up Caroline? About that oral report from Mrs Jones class You mean the most embarrassing moment of your life? Yeah, is she serious? She does it with every class. She thinks it promotes class bonding
• 07:30 - 08:00 So we just like write out our most embarrassing moment and read it in front of the whole class. Oh, don't worry It doesn't have to be true. Nobody tells the truth. I mean why would you. Just make something up. Especially you no one even knows you can make up anything. Okay, cool This was going good. They seemed to like me. I could see myself fitting in hanging out being popular again. I was on the fast track to-- Caroline. Caroline. I was looking for you everywhere.
• 08:00 - 08:30 Haley right, yeah, duh look I got some exciting news for you. You're gonna be happy. Chess Club has moved I know you said you couldn't come because it's on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but now it's moved to Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays we got extra day That's great. And on Fridays we'll have access to a TV so we can watch movies if we want. anyhow caroline nice meeting you Was I interrupting something? No, it's fine. You guys go ahead. Good luck with your most embarrassing moment report thanks
• 08:30 - 09:00 Anyhow, we got a bunch of movies lined up with a chess theme. There's this one old classic where this guy is playing chess with Death. It is so intense. great okay So that was a setback But things could be worse at least I wasn't in the rock-Paper-scissor club rock paper scissors
• 09:00 - 09:30 Dynamite there is no such as dynamite. Dynamite beats everything. you can't do that in rock paper scissors competition. Every day these three come up with some new way to try to be cool Each attempt is more pathetic than the one before
• 09:30 - 10:00 The hoodies are not working. You know what I got two words for these hoodies my epic fail Leo what do you suggest? Something that makes people notice us. We could do the hair gel thing again Oh no, no, I'm not going down that road again. That was sunglasses oh Look at these. Oh my gosh. Are these 3D? These are yeah, I'm gonna go check out the girls
• 10:00 - 10:30 I can actually see through the girls clothes. Oh my gosh. oh look. there's some more girls over there. Freaks. What's the matter with you? Guys, they're not XRay. They're 3D. Thanks for warning us there goes our middle school career So three weeks into school
• 10:30 - 11:00 And I still didn't quite know where I fit as it turned out there was still one more club I could possibly join Do you want to join the ABC? The ABC? The anti bullying committee. Who are you guys? I'm Debbie I'm Sonya your student Council reps I'm caroline nice to meet you. As you know February's anti-bullying month So we're preparing our own anti-bullying committee, and we're looking for members. What would a member have to do?
• 11:00 - 11:30 Well it would operate much like a neighborhood watch program We will need members in each wing of the school that will monitor student activity and report on any bullying that they see Wait, so we just like fink on people? Fink's not a word we like to use. you monitor and report and then anyone who does get bullied can fill out a bully report and hand it in anonymously to any ABC member. We believe that if one person's a victim of bullying, we're all victims
• 11:30 - 12:00 Anyhoo, we're really excited about the ABC's it's gonna make our awesome school even awesomer, and if we can eliminate bullying the student Council is gonna receive a grant a $500 so we want everyone on board meeting is tomorrow at 3:00 Okay, thanks
• 12:00 - 12:30 As Pathetic as they are I have to admire those losers for never giving up guys. Hey guys what if we formed a band? That's so it. I call lead singer whoa you cannot just call lead singer like that Leo yeah I can have you ever seen me rock out in my bedroom I sound like Bono You can't be a lead singer in a rock band with hair like yours all right. You know what yeah, okay girls
• 12:30 - 13:00 Don't care about your hair they care about your voice. the part that you're singing with girls don't care How you sound it's all about the looks leo do any of us know how to play an instrument. Oh wait guys what happens if we were rappers.
• 13:00 - 13:30 yo being in detention was never my intention staying after school was such a lame invention get your booty on garbage duty Yo picking up trash is giving me a rash it'd be a better job if it paid some cash. living life large as you pick up garbage
• 13:30 - 14:00 okay, everyone the anti bullying meeting can begin Where is everybody? I guess this is it
• 14:00 - 14:30 We'll just wait a minute there should be more people coming soon this is gonna be like so cool Maybe we should postpone This is the only day we could book this room. We can't do it abcs like this They're not even popular
• 14:30 - 15:00 More popular people would be better Um I'm afraid we're gonna have to postpone the first ABC meeting due to low turnout. Oh Our chess club meeting doesn't start for another 15 minutes. They're just down the hall. They'd love this they get bullied all the time. we'll go get them.
• 15:00 - 15:30 There's those guys down the hall rehearsing their rap group. I could go ask if they want to come. okay great. meeting adjourned.
• 15:30 - 16:00 Haley is that a new sweater Yeah, it is Do you like it totally fresh? Why thank you oh my god seriously my grandma has that sweater
• 16:00 - 16:30 Figuring out the friend thing was getting more and more complicated Hey Carolyn. Caroline. Right how's it going pretty good? I guess he's still doing much I actually was never really doing that so what are you doing? you know homework hey i like your boots where did you get those? Are they from Jamnation? Yeah? Jamnation I didn't have the guts to tell them they actually used to be my grandma's
• 16:30 - 17:00 They're from the store in winnipeg. Can't believe Jamnation has different styles in different cities Why can't them the same thing everywhere like normal stores? Hey can I see the label? Sure, oh Wait, these aren't my Jamnation boots I thought they were. so where are they from? Eatons Eatons? What's Eatons?
• 17:00 - 17:30 It's this old store that doesn't exist anymore, so you shop at old stores that don't exist anymore yeah, I actually didn't buy these my Grandmother did your grandma buys your clothes? That's really sweet
• 17:30 - 18:00 It seemed like this notion of bullying was everywhere you turned Tomorrow's anti bullying day. Don't forget to wear your pink but given this hypersensitivity to it all I have to say not many people really seem to get it and It wasn't just the girls
• 18:00 - 18:30 Hey Where's your pink what? He said where's your pink? it's Anti-bullying day, you're supposed to be wearing pink. I didn't have anything pink What about your sisters? Yeah? She's got pink I've seen her wear it
• 18:30 - 19:00 Then did you even try it on yeah? It was too big it was not What about her socks? Yeah, you could've worn pink socks. She doesn't have any pink socks you Probably didn't even look come on guys just I need to get to class. What's the rush you got people you need to bully?
• 19:00 - 19:30 Or something Just cause I'm not wearing pink doesn't mean I'm a bully. it means you support The bullies I don't support the bullies. I just don't have any pink clothes. Well, it's your lucky day I got an extra shirt right here put it on That's all right if you don't put it on bullies win
• 19:30 - 20:00 Just say no to bullies Why did they do to you? I was nothing
• 20:00 - 20:30 What's this it's a bully report Okay. it's no big deal. it was a big deal they were bullying you I it that does can handle it. that doesn't matter let the student council Look into it. That's what they're here for actually. I don't think we can accept this why not it should really be filled out by Victim oh Okay, then look we're all victims. That's what you said, well. Maybe you could just wait till next week
• 20:30 - 21:00 why if our school has a clean record with no reported bullying our student Council will get a $500 grant we were just picking out our student Council jackets a Student council that looks good will be a source of pride for all students and that will make everyone happy which will eliminate bullying And that's what we're all here for so I think the best way to deal with this is to just Ignore it for now. It's not that we're insensitive to this because it's a very important issue
• 21:00 - 21:30 We just have to deal with it on a case by case basis Thanks for coming to us we're always here Believe it or not Jason getting wrestled into a pink shirt on anti-bullying day was not the most humiliating event I witnessed that week
• 21:30 - 22:00 Thursday was oral presentation day and Mrs. Jones English class one day It was pretty obvious. He was lying about their most embarrassing moment Some were pretty lame like my fly was undone. I was in the girls bathroom
• 22:00 - 22:30 well others seemed quite real I Wanted to make mine real, too I wanted to tell everyone how once I told alan perkins that I liked him And how he told me that he was flattered and how I was too embarrassed to talk to him again after that
• 22:30 - 23:00 but I hate chickened out I Was at my friend's birthday party, and we're all Gonna. Go outside. I went first, but I Really? That actually was true. It just wasn't the most embarrassing moment for me Thankfully nobody knew me well enough to call me on it. Haley on the other hand Wasn't so lucky and so we were like totally wearing the same clothes. I was like oh my God
• 23:00 - 23:30 Shut up Where someone dare go to kiss yours if you wouldn't do it? Miss Jones class bonding assignment, definitely brought us closer together just
• 23:30 - 24:00 Not in the way, she wanted I don't think and Things look like they would go from bad to worse when the next day Simon the bully got paired with bonnie the bully on their planet art project, but Surprisingly they managed to get along just fine maybe it was because their project was about the planet venus and
• 24:00 - 24:30 Venus was the Roman goddess of love You smell like soap Thanks Okay, maybe that was a stupid theory But there seemed to be something to it because after that art project not only were bonnie and simon nice to each other They also started being nice to other people, too Thanks
• 24:30 - 25:00 All this made me come to a very powerful realization love conquers hate
• 25:00 - 25:30 It looks good. Thanks But that doesn't mean the forces of the dark side give up so Now you're sharing make up of losers. I was just helping her out, and why are you not wearing jeans today?
• 25:30 - 26:00 I guess I didn't get the text Whatever, it's all I be able to just like clones everyday hello I got Simon told her to dress like that That's true Is this what simple Simon like Simon doesn't tell me what to wear? Did they tell you what to think I'd be telling you what to say tell me anything Guys in this school Curtis Anderson 18 peters Cooper girl read some what's the mouth?
• 26:00 - 26:30 Who are you? I don't know I Think I've been told a million times be it yourself But how do you do that if you don't know who yourself is yet? I?
• 26:30 - 27:00 Mean seriously does anybody know who they are in Middle school. Oh peach fuzz needs you Weird peach fuzz yo we are totally making a rap video It's gonna be off the train insane yeah, and we need girls like you right, okay? Well, will you do it come on? You want me to be in your rap videos? Yeah?
• 27:00 - 27:30 I was flattered enough but Girls and Rap videos don't usually get a lot of hispanics ours won't be that way no No, you don't have to wear like we're bikini or like shake your thing anything. It'll be totally respectful oh, yeah, I wanted to say yes, but I Wish there was brave enough to say yes Being in a rap video would probably be fun But I don't know I guess that's not who I am at least I don't think it is I
• 27:30 - 28:00 Guess courage is what it takes to stand out and try something different like that Haley seem to have a lot of courage oh Hey, you guys need a new treasurer Yeah, what the treasurer have to do? mostly keep tracking the money oh I can do that Counting is always one of my strongest qualities, so you think he am running? Yeah? I've always got like straight a's in math
• 28:00 - 28:30 It's more than just Haley we need to get votes - oh And not just to win to get nominated that form has to be signed by six students realistic We don't want to lose paper Well there are five people in my chess club. You'd need one more
• 28:30 - 29:00 Do money you guys want to sign up for me? Well you see that would be inappropriate for us as members Sure, you understand. Yeah, right of course Of course it's easier to have courage when you have friends
• 29:00 - 29:30 Except when friends get in your way
• 29:30 - 30:00 And it seems courage is needed for more than just standing out it's also needed for standing up ah But that's hard too, especially when standing by is so much easier Do just leave him alone
• 30:00 - 30:30 Who's Gonna make me but maybe all it takes is one person I am Anyone else and others might show it to and me Hey, Simon check out these, wannabe gangsters this should be fine
• 30:30 - 31:00 you know in class how sometimes everyone's afraid to answer a question, but Once one person does it then the others do too well, that's just what seemed to happen after Nathan stood up to Scott other people got favored -
• 31:00 - 31:30 What did they say to you? Hi, can I help you? I do not need to wax my mustache
• 31:30 - 32:00 Let me tell you what I heard You guys are loves you friends, and if you keep spreading rumors about me I'm going to tell everyone they used to wear little mermaid pajamas And I have the pictures to prove it Witnessing all this bravery gave me an idea
• 32:00 - 32:30 You still want to be on student council? Yeah? I'll be your last signature
• 32:30 - 33:00 Yeah But I need you to do something for me first anything anything anything We'll do it. What boys will be in your rap video. I
• 33:00 - 33:30 Never agreed to be fun No, we have to do a shaker thing wait I thought you said this was gonna be respected it is by shakers things. I don't mean shake your bang thing Just her thing Who's going to see this? Every everybody have you guys ever done something like this before no? Do you have any idea what you're doing? no by doing this are we
• 33:30 - 34:00 We Gonna embarrass ourselves in front of the whole school? maybe Yeah, so the one big thing I discovered today courage is contagious and Sometimes you just got to take a chance, okay, I? Will do it
• 34:00 - 34:30 And and once you go in about it
• 34:30 - 35:00 better than you
• 35:00 - 35:30 Oh, yeah, oh, oh
• 35:30 - 36:00 Yeah, oh don't record this no
• 36:00 - 36:30 I smell amazing
• 36:30 - 37:00 You smell like silver
• 37:00 - 37:30 and if we can illuminate believe that Once again having a steam castle that looks good will be this a source up one more time I Look more like a rock star lids look ready bow, Chicka. Wow. Wow wow wow? That's right
• 37:30 - 38:00 Everyone you still wear little mermaid projects