She felt abandoned — until a teacher's hug reminded her she wasn't alone

Laura Kwerel

September 29, 2025 / 2:00 am

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.

When Tanya Eby was in sixth grade, her friends made a decision that stunned and devastated her.

"The girls that I hung out with for lunch and played with had held a meeting and told me that I was no longer cool enough to hang out with them," Eby recalled.

"They would be ignoring me, and I was no longer part of the group."

Eby's world was unraveling — but the loss of her friends was only part of the story. A few days later, she broke down in tears while in class, and her teacher, Mrs. Welch, pulled her into

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