Words (what are words for)?

I was talking to my daughter today. She's nine and like many her age, she's crazy about Hilary Duff. Our conversations cover various topics relating to pop culture. Today it was the Backstreet Boys (in rank of who is best looking. She ranked, I listened) and 'friends' who talk behind your back. She's had it happen and claims it doesn't bother her. I hope not. But I know how words can cut you emotionally and leave lifetime scars.....Takes me back to Grade 5. To digress, this incident came about after watching School of Rock. The kids in the movie all play their own instruments--and they are all very talented. (Take that Partridge Family). I think playing an instrument is an amazing thing. I felt like knocking on doors in my building to try and find someone who was willing to sell me their guitar.Anyway, Grade 5. In what was a scientific way to decide if people had any musical ability, we took half of the 5th grade and put them in a room with a tape recorder. Different sounds were played in three categories: one was like, rhythmn, one was sounds and I can't remember the third. You had to answer from a series of multiple choice questions and, based on a score ranging from 1 to10 (1=best, 10=worst) you were recommended to try out for band if you so chose. My scores were 10, 1 and 4. Cut it in half and in there pretty solid. I had trouble hearing the first category sounds and I think that affected my score. Excuse? Maybe....So I didn't fit the criteria for band. I got over it. But I didn't get over the teacher Mrs. Sheardown - yes, that was her name - and what she said to me. She looked at my score, then at me and 'Scott, you don't...' and she stopped short of whatever she was going to say. She just shook her head as if to say you don't have what it takes. And even though I was interested in band, I listened to her.I guess I write this for two reasons: one, what you say can impact someone else for a long time; two, i shouldn't have listened to her. I should have figured out for myself if I was cut out for the band.